Multiplication symbols in algebra and what they mean

The times sign is just one way to show multiplication. Once we start using letters in algebra, a dot, parentheses, or factors written next to each other can make the same operation easier to read.

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Read the four ways to show multiplication

Ways to write a product

Notation	Example
Times sign	$a\times b$
Centered dot	$a·b$
Parentheses	$\left(a\right)\left(b\right)$
Factors side by side	$ab$

The times sign $\times$ looks similar to the variable $x$. In algebra, we often use a centered dot or parentheses to show a product. Letters next to each other also indicate multiplication, as in $ab$, and a coefficient next to a variable means multiplication too, as in $3x$.

When both factors are written as numbers, use a sign or parentheses to separate them. For example, $3·4$ and $\left(3\right)\left(4\right)$ mean three times four. The digits in $34$ represent one number, thirty-four.

Write five times two three different ways

$\begin{array}{l}5\times 2=10\\ 5·2=10\\ \left(5\right)\left(2\right)=10\end{array}$

Simplify an expression that mixes the symbols

$2·4\times 3\left(5\right)(2·2)$

Every operation here is multiplication. We can group $2$ and $4$ to get $8$, $3$ and $5$ to get $15$, and the two factors inside the last parentheses to get $4$.

$\begin{array}{l}8\times 15\times 4\\ =8\times 60=480\end{array}$

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