What does 4bc mean in mathematical notation?

What does 4bc mean in mathematical notation?

• A. 4 multiplied by b and c
• B. 4 added to b and c
• C. b times c plus 4
• D. 4 times (b + c)

Answer: (A)

When a number sits directly next to variables, it multiplies them. So 4bc means 4 times b times c, which is the same as (4b)c or 4(bc) due to multiplication being associative. It isn’t a sum, so it doesn’t mean 4 added to b and c (that would be 4 + b + c), nor does it mean bc plus 4, nor 4 times the sum of b and c (which would be 4(b+c)). For a quick check, with b = 2 and c = 3, 4bc = 4×2×3 = 24, whereas 4 + b + c = 9, bc + 4 = 10, and 4(b+c) = 20.

When a number sits directly next to variables, it multiplies them. So 4bc means 4 times b times c, which is the same as (4b)c or 4(bc) due to multiplication being associative. It isn’t a sum, so it doesn’t mean 4 added to b and c (that would be 4 + b + c), nor does it mean bc plus 4, nor 4 times the sum of b and c (which would be 4(b+c)). For a quick check, with b = 2 and c = 3, 4bc = 4×2×3 = 24, whereas 4 + b + c = 9, bc + 4 = 10, and 4(b+c) = 20.