Múltiple

Multiple, or múltiple in Spanish, is a term used with several senses in language and mathematics. As an adjective, múltiple means “more than one” or “several” and is used to indicate plurality, as in multiple solutions. It is written with an acute accent on the ú.

In mathematics, the term functions as both a noun and an adjective. As a noun, un múltiplo refers to a number that is the product of another number and an integer; for example, 6 is a múltiplo de 2. The set of all such numbers is the set of multiples of the given integer. The phrase mínimo común múltiplo (LCM) denotes the least common multiple of two or more integers.

In algebra and number theory, 'múltiple' also appears in phrases about multiples and in the context of multiplicity. A 'raíz múltiple' is a polynomial root with multiplicity greater than one, and 'multiplicidad' expresses this idea of repetition.

Origin and related terms: the word derives from Latin multiplex, from multi- 'many' and plexus 'folded' or 'braided'. Related concepts include mínimo común múltiplo, máximo común divisor (MCD), and multiplicidad.

Examples: there are multiple solutions; 6 is a multiple of 2; the multiples of 5 are 5, 10, 15, etc.