What does product mean in math?

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Product: The term product in math means adding a number repetitively till specified number of times. The operator used is ‘*’ or sometimes ‘x’. It is also known as multiply or multiplication. A product is an answer when two number are multiplied.

For example, check this mathematical statement:

a x b=c
This statement is read as ‘a’ times ‘b’ equals to ‘c’

or, when we add ‘b’ repetitively ‘a’ time, the answer is ‘c’.

or ‘a’ multiplied by ‘b’ results in ‘c’.

or ‘a’ into ‘b’ is ‘c’.

or the product of ‘a’ and ‘b’ is ‘c’.

Here, ‘a’ and ‘b’ are known as multiplicand and multiplier respectively. ‘c’ is referred to as the product.

Let’s learn it by taking an example:

Example 1:

Say, we need to find product of 3 and 6.

There are two approaches to attain the same.

Approach 1: Direct multiplication

Here, 3 is multiplicand and 6 is the multiplier. Just skim through the table of 6 and now you know the answer

Its, 3 x 6 = 18 (3 times 6 is 18)

So, the product of 3 and 6 is 18.

Approach 2: Repetitive Addition

Here you need to add ‘6’ , three times.

6 + 6 + 6 = 18

The answer is 18.

Still not clear, Let’s take another example

Example 2:

Now we need to find the product of 8 and 9.

By following approach 1, you just read the table of 9 in your mind and find the answer.

So, 8 x 9 = 72 (8 times 9 is 72)

Hence, the product of 8 and 9 is 72.

Approach two or repetitive addition says you need to add 9, eight times.

So, 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 =72.

Or we can say that 8 times 9 is 72.

Example 3: Let’s discuss a Word problem

Suppose there are 10 chocolates in a box. Find total number of chocolates in 7 boxes?

Approach 1

First, just multiply number of chocolates in one box and total number of boxes.
Number of chocolates in one box = 10
number of chocolates in 7 boxes= 10 x 7=70

The product of 7 and 10 will give total number of chocolates i.e., 70.

Approach 2