Mul`ti*pli*ca"tion (?), n. [L.
multiplicatio: cf. F. multiplication. See
Multiply.] 1. The act or process of
multiplying, or of increasing in number; the state of being
multiplied; as, the multiplication of the human species by
natural generation.
The increase and multiplication of the
world.
Thackeray.
2. (Math.) The process of repeating,
or adding to itself, any given number or quantity a certain number of
times; commonly, the process of ascertaining by a briefer computation
the result of such repeated additions; also, the rule by which the
operation is performed; -- the reverse of division.
&fist; The word multiplication is sometimes used in
mathematics, particularly in multiple algebra, to denote any
distributive operation expressed by one symbol upon any quantity or
any thing expressed by another symbol. Corresponding extensions of
meaning are given to the words multiply, multiplier,
multiplicand, and product. Thus, since φ(x +
y) = φx + φy (see under
Distributive), where φ(x + y), φx, and
φy indicate the results of any distributive operation
represented by the symbol φ upon x + y, x, and
y, severally, then because of many very useful analogies
φ(x + y) is called the product of φ and x +
y, and the operation indicated by φ is called
multiplication. Cf. Facient, n.,
2.
3. (Bot.) An increase above the normal
number of parts, especially of petals; augmentation.
4. The art of increasing gold or silver by
magic, -- attributed formerly to the alchemists. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Multiplication table, a table giving the
product of a set of numbers multiplied in some regular way; commonly,
a table giving the products of the first ten or twelve numbers
multiplied successively by 1, 2, 3, etc., up to 10 or 12.
