Arithmetic Operations
Arithmetic operations are the basics of mathematics. It mainly consists of operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. These are also known as mathematical operations. In our everyday life, we use arithmetic operations to find out total business income and expenses, to make a monthly or annual budget, to measure lengths, etc. We use them at almost all the times of our day for example while calculating the total number of questions given in homework, while calculating time, money, number of chocolates we ate, number of marks obtained in all the subjects, etc.
| 1. | Arithmetic Operations Definition |
| 2. | Four Basic Arithmetic Operations |
| 3. | Arithmetic Operations with Whole Numbers |
| 4. | Arithmetic Operations with Rational Numbers |
| 5. | FAQs on Arithmetic Operations |
Arithmetic Operations Definition
Arithmetic operations are a set of four basic operations to be performed to add, subtract, multiply or divide two or more quantities. They include the study of numbers including order of operations which are useful in all the other parts of mathematics such as algebra, data handling, and geometry. We cannot solve the problem without using the rules of arithmetic operations. The arithmetic operations include four basic rules that are addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. There is a particular symbol used for each of the four arithmetic operations which are given in the image below.
Four Basic Arithmetic Operations
Here we are discussing the four basic rules of arithmetic operations for all real numbers.
- Addition (sum; ‘+’)
- Subtraction (difference; ‘-’)
- Multiplication (product; ‘×’ )
- Division (÷)
Let's discuss the above arithmetic operations in detail.
Addition
The addition is a basic mathematical skill of finding or calculating the total of two or more numbers, or we can say in simple words adding things together. It is denoted by the symbol ‘+’. When we add two or more numbers it results in a single term. The order of numbers does not matter in the addition.
For example: 367 + 985 = 1352
Subtraction
The subtraction arithmetic operation shows the difference between two numbers. It is denoted by the symbol ‘-‘. Subtraction is mostly used to find out what is left when things are taken away or in other words, taking one number away from another number.
For example: 20 - 9 = 11
Multiplication
The repeated addition is known as multiplication. It is represented by the symbol ‘×’. Multiplication as an arithmetic operation helps us to find out the total when a number is repeating itself a number of times. For example, 2 times 3 is 6. Mathematically, we can write it as 2 × 3 = 6. Multiplicand and multiplier are the terms used in the multiplication process. The product is the term we use for the result of the multiplication of multiplicand and the multiplier.
For example: 20 × 31 = 620
In the above example, “20” is the multiplier, “31” is the multiplicand, and the result “620” is known as the product.
Division
The division is an act of dividing something into equal parts or groups. It is one of the four basic arithmetic operations which gives a fair result of equal sharing. The division is an inverse of multiplication. For example, 2 groups of 3 pencils each make 6 pencils (2 × 3) in multiplication, and in the case of division 6 pencils divided into 2 equal groups give 3 pencils in each group. It is represented by the symbol ‘÷ ’. So, here we can write it as 6 ÷ 2 = 3.
Arithmetic Operations with Whole Numbers
With whole numbers, we can easily perform the four basic arithmetic operations. Whole numbers are a set of numbers that starts from 0 and go on up to infinity. Such numbers do not have any fractional or decimal parts. The addition of two or more whole numbers always leads to an increase in the final sum. For example, if we add three numbers 4, 5, and 6, we will get 4 + 5 + 6 = 9 + 6 = 15. So, here 15 is greater than all the three addends. The addition of any number with 0 always results in the same number, and if we add 1 to any whole number, we get its consecutive number or successor.
In the case of whole numbers, we always subtract a smaller quantity from a larger quantity to get a difference that is less than the minuend. Subtraction of 0 from any number always results in the same number, and deducting 1 from a number gives its predecessor. Multiplication of two or more whole numbers can be done by using multiplication tables. The product is always greater than both the numbers except in the case of multiplication with 1 and 0. A number multiplied to 0 always results in 0 and multiplication with 1 gives us the same number as the product.
The division of two whole numbers may or may not result in whole numbers. If the quotient is a whole number, it means that the dividend is a multiple of the divisor. If it is not, then it will result in a decimal number as the quotient.
Arithmetic Operations with Rational Numbers
Arithmetic operations with rational numbers are the same as that of whole numbers. The only difference is that rational numbers are in the form of p/q, where p and q are integers and q is not equal to 0. While adding or subtracting two rational numbers, we have to take the LCM of the denominators. To know about arithmetic operations on rational numbers, click here.
Related Articles on Arithmetic Operations
Check the following pages related to the arithmetic operations.
FAQs on Arithmetic Operations
What are the Basic Rules of Arithmetic Operations?
In mathematics, addition (+), subtraction (-), multiplication (×), and division are the four basic arithmetic operations.
What do the Four Arithmetic Operations Represent?
The four arithmetic operations - addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division represents:
- Additions represent the sum of two values.
- Subtraction represents the difference between two numbers
- Multiplication shows the product of two numbers.
- The division is the process of dividing one number by another and getting quotient and remainder values.
What is the Order of Arithmetic Operations?
The order in which arithmetic operations need to be performed in an expression is known as PEMDAS or BODMAS. This rule clearly states that the order to perform operations is parentheses, exponents, multiplication or division, and addition or subtraction.
Is Subtraction an Arithmetic Operation?
Yes, subtraction is an arithmetic operation that shows the process of removing objects from a collection. Subtraction involves deducting one number from another number. The subtraction symbol looks like this" - ". The symbol name is a minus sign. For example, Rachel has 6 apples and from that, she gave 2 apples to her brother Jon. So to find the remaining apples with Rachel, we will subtract 2 from 6. The difference will be the answer, that is, 6 - 2 = 4.
Is Addition an Arithmetic Operation?
Yes, addition is one of the rules of arithmetic operation. The addition means calculating the total or finding out the sum of two or more numbers. The addition symbol looks like this" + ". For example, 25 + 10 + 4 = 39.
What are the Symbols of Basic Arithmetic Operations?
The symbols of basic arithmetic operations are:
- Addition symbol ⇒ ‘+’
- Subtraction symbol ⇒ ‘ -’
- Multiplication symbol ⇒ ‘×’
- Division symbol ⇒ ‘÷’