The 4 basic mathematical operations

The 4 basic mathematical operations are:

1) Addition
2) Subtraction
3) Multiplication
4) Division

Addition:
In Addition we add up numbers using the symbol (+), which is called the plus sign.

For example, 3 + 4 = 7 which is read as "three plus four equals seven."

The whole statement of the mathematical operation is called an EQUATION. We will encounter various kinds of equations in our subsequent math works.

When we add two numbers together, those two numbers are called addends,and the resulting number is called the SUM. In our example, the addends are 3 and 4, and the sum is 7.

Subtraction:
In mathematics, Subtraction is the process of deducting one number or quantity from another, and we use the minus symbol (-). We find this symbol in our computer keyboard as the hyphen below the underscore key.

As an example, the equation 6 – 2 = 4 is read as "six minus two equals four".

In subtraction, the first number is called the SUBTRAHEND, and the second number is called the MINUEND. The resulting number in a subtraction operation is called DIFFERENCE. It is obvious in our example that 6 is the subtrahend and 2 is the minuend with the resulting number 4 as the difference.

Multiplication:
By definition to multiply is to increase by a considerable number, amount, or make a certain number increase by several times as desired. Thus, Multiplication is often described as a shortcut process for repeated addition.

For example,
5 × 4 means add 5 to itself 4 times: 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 20
8 × 7 means add 8 to itself 7 times: 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 = 56
100 × 3 means add 100 to itself 3 times: 100 + 100 + 100 = 300

In Multiplication, we use the times sign (×) or the dot (.) symbol to signify the multiplication operation.
We can use also the pair of parenthesis ( ) symbols. Let's take note of the following examples:

6 x 7 means  6·7 also means 6 (7) or  (6)7  or  (6)(7)

8 x 10 means  8·10 also means 8 (10) or  (8)10  or  (8)(10)

60 x 25 =  60·25 = 60 (25) = (60)25  or  (60)(25)

The first number in a multiplication operation is called MULTIPLICAND and the second is MULTIPLIER. Both multiplicand and multiplier are referred to as the FACTORS. When the factors are multiplied, the resulting number we get is called the PRODUCT.

Division
In the real sense, Division is just the opposite of the Multiplication operation. For in Multiplication, we add up or increase the number itself to several times, whereas, in the Division process we split things or break down a number into several parts.

There a number of symbols used in the Division operation, they are:

When you divide one number by another, the first number is called the DIVIDEND, the second is called the DIVISOR. We call the result a QUOTIENT. Let's consider the following examples:

In our next post, we shall talk about the PROPERTIES of the 4 mathematical operations we just discussed.