Product

Definition

The product is the result of multiplying two or more numbers or quantities together. It represents the combined or cumulative effect of the factors involved in the multiplication operation.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The product of two whole numbers can be found by using the standard multiplication algorithm.
2. In the context of prime factorization, the product of a number's prime factors represents the original number.
3. When multiplying integers, the product can be positive or negative, depending on the signs of the factors.
4. In decimal operations, the product of two decimal numbers is found by multiplying the digits and then aligning the decimal point correctly.
5. The product of two polynomials is obtained by applying the distributive property and combining like terms.

Review Questions

• Explain how the concept of product is used in the context of multiplying whole numbers.
  • When multiplying whole numbers, the product is the result of the multiplication operation. The standard multiplication algorithm involves breaking down the numbers into place values, multiplying each pair of digits, and then adding the partial products together to find the final product. The product represents the combined or cumulative effect of the two factors being multiplied.
• Describe the role of product in the process of prime factorization and finding the least common multiple.
  • In the context of prime factorization, the product of a number's prime factors represents the original number. By breaking down a number into its prime factors and finding their product, you can determine the original number. Additionally, the least common multiple of two or more numbers can be found by taking the product of the highest powers of each prime factor present in the numbers.
• Analyze how the concept of product is applied when multiplying and dividing integers, and how the signs of the factors affect the product.
  • When multiplying integers, the product can be positive or negative, depending on the signs of the factors. If the factors have the same sign (both positive or both negative), the product will be positive. If the factors have opposite signs (one positive and one negative), the product will be negative. This rule applies because multiplication can be viewed as repeated addition, and the sign of the product follows the rules of addition for integers.

Related terms

Factor: A factor is a number or quantity that is multiplied with another to find the product.

Multiplication: Multiplication is the mathematical operation of finding the product by repeatedly adding one of the factors.

Prime Factorization: Prime factorization is the process of expressing a number as the product of its prime factors.