Does multiply mean times? - Answers

Within the realm of arithmetic processing, then yes. However, the syntax of the usage of these terms differs slightly when expressed in words depending on the context, as illustrated below for the arithmetic expression '2 x 6':(1) In an instruction it would be verbalised as either 'Multiply two by six' or 'Times two by six' - so the terms 'Multiply' and 'Times' are used here entirely synonymously, with 'Times...by' thus being the imperative of the verb 'to times...by'.[nb - at least in the UK, persons born before about 1970 are likely only to use the term 'Multiply...by' in this context, thus though they might say 'two times six' (as in (2) below), they are unlikely to use the term 'Times two by six'](2) However in a simple statement it would be verbalised as either 'two multiplied by six' or 'two times six'. Note that here the term 'multiply...by' has changed to 'multiplied by', whereas the 'times' in 'times...by' not only remains unchanged but is expressed without the 'by'.[nb - it can be said even more concisely as 'two sixes', as in 'two sixes are twelve' ]