Introduction
The history of the study of multiplication, or ‘multiplicatus’ as it is known in Latin, dates back to as early as the 4th century BC. It was first formulated by the Greek mathematician Euclid, who is sometimes referred to as the father of mathematics. He wrote several treatises on multiplication and its properties, which laid the foundations for modern mathematics. Today, multiplication is an essential tool to understand more complex forms of mathematics including differential equations, linear algebra and group theory.
Types of Multiplication
There are two main types of multiplication. The first type is called ‘finite multiplication’ where one or more numbers are multiplied together. Examples of finite multiplication include 3 x 5, 4 x 6 and so on. The second type of multiplication is called ‘infinite multiplication’. In this type of multiplication, two or more numbers are combined in a way that is not limited to finite processes, such as adding or multiplying a given number by a given factor; this method is often referred to as ‘repeating’ because it requires repeating a certain number of times.
Euclidean Principles
In Euclidean mathematics, multiplication was defined as a process of combining two or more numbers through means of multiplication and division. Euclid formulated that multiplication could be understood as taking a set of numbers, multiplying them all together, and the product was the result. Euclid also formulated the properties of multiplication; this includes the associative and distributive properties, which can be explained as follows:
The associative property of multiplication states that (a x b) x c = a x (b x c). In other words, two or more numbers can be multiplied no matter how they are arranged, as long as the same order and number of numbers are used.
The distributive property of multiplication states that a x (b + c) = (a x b) + (a x c). This property states that two or more numbers when added or subtracted can be multiplied with another number and the result will remain the same.
Real World Applications
Multiplication can be applied to solve real world problems, such as calculating compound interest on financial investments, rates of exchange between currencies, and cost/benefit analysis. It can also be used to calculate the area of rectangles and other shapes in mathematics. The properties of multiplication can be used to easily solve equations that involve algebra and other mathematical methods.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the study of multiplication is an important component of mathematics; the knowledge of the properties of multiplication can make the understanding of more complex forms of mathematics easier. The concept of multiplication extends far beyond the traditional society of numbers, and forms a basis for modern mathematics in all its forms. Its real-world applications are immense, as it helps solve many equations and calculations in fields such as finance, economics, and physics.