Multiplication
In simple algebra, multiplication is the process of calculating the result when a number 
is taken 
times. The result
of a multiplication is called the product of 
and 
, and each of the
numbers 
and 
is called a factor of the product 
. Multiplication
is denoted 
, 
, 
, or simply
. The symbol 
is known as
the multiplication sign. Normal multiplication
is associative, commutative,
and distributive.
More generally, multiplication can also be defined for other mathematical objects such as groups, matrices, sets, and tensors.
Karatsuba and Ofman (1962) discovered that multiplication of two 
digit numbers can
be done with a bit complexity of less than 
using an algorithm now known as Karatsuba
multiplication.
Eddy Grant's pop song "Electric Avenue" (Electric Avenue, 2001) includes the commentary: "Who is to blame in one country; Never can get to the one; Dealin' in multiplication; And they still can't feed everyone, oh no."
Cundy, H. M. "What Is 
?" Math.
Gaz. 43, 101, 1959.
Karatsuba, A. and Ofman, Yu. "Multiplication of Many-Digital Numbers by Automatic Computers." Doklady Akad. Nauk SSSR 145, 293-294, 1962. Translation in Physics-Doklady 7, 595-596, 1963.
Weisstein, Eric W. "Multiplication." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Web Resource. http://mathworld.wolfram.com/Multiplication.html
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