Past tense of multiply; increased in number, quantity, or degree through mathematical operation or natural reproduction. Can refer to both arithmetic operations and biological/social phenomena.
From Latin multiplicatus, past participle of multiplicare 'to increase,' from multiplex meaning 'many-fold.' The mathematical sense developed in Middle English from French multiplier, while the general sense of 'increase' existed alongside the specific arithmetic usage.
The ancient Babylonians developed multiplication tables over 4,000 years ago, though they used a base-60 system instead of our base-10. Interestingly, the 'times table' that children learn today would be unrecognizable to most historical mathematicians, who used various geometric and additive methods to achieve multiplication.
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