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What is Multiplication?
Believe it or not, the definition of multiplication is something that people debate! Before reading onward, how do you define it?
Many people define multiplication as "repeated addition of numbers". While this might make sense for whole numbers [What is a whole number?], some math researchers suggest that for other kinds of numbers, this definition is not correct . Yet others argue against this, but provide no clear definition.
A more nuanced definition comes to us from Princeton University's WordNet, which explains that multiplication is the process in which the "product of two numbers is computed."
Perhaps the most important definition is your own. What does multiplication mean to you?
Who invented Multiplication?
Would you believe that the mathematical concept of multiplying has existed for thousands of years? It's true. There are recordings of multiplication tables from the Ancient Sumerian times, or approximately 2600 BC (about 4,600) years ago. We also know that different systems for Multiplying spread throughout the world.
For example, the oldest known Egyptian recording dates from 1600 BC. Ancient Egyptians used a system of hieroglyphics to multiply. As you can see, we are lucky to have simpler solving methods to use!
Ancient Chinese cultures also developed a system for Multiplication, which were documented in a book called the Zhou Bi Suan Jing (written in Chinese). Among its recordings is a series of multiplication tables very similar to our own, and many other contributions to mathematics.
Finally, ancient Indian cultures developed a system similar to what we know as the Lattice method, which has persisted, and even grown in popularity, as of today.