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Multiplication

Repeated addition. 3 × 4 means three groups of four — or four groups of three. Both make a rectangle.

Multiplication is a rectangle

3 rows × 4 columns = 12 dots.

3 × 4 = 12

Two views of ×

  • Repeated addition. 4 × 3 = 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12.
  • Area of a rectangle. 4 rows × 3 columns = 12 dots.

Order doesn't matter (here)

4 × 3 = 3 × 4. Multiplication is commutative too. The rectangle just gets rotated.