Multiplication sign ×

• Arithmetic: 6 × 7 = 42, with a space on each side.
• Dimensions: US letter paper is 8.5 × 11 in, lumber comes in 2 × 4s, a screen is 1920 × 1080. Read × as “by.”
• Magnification: 10× zoom, 8×42 binoculars. Here × follows the number with no space.
• Scientific notation: 6.02 × 10²³.
• Vectors: a × b is the cross product, different from the dot product a ⋅ b.
• Botany: hybrid plant names include ×, as in Mentha × piperita, peppermint.

In algebra the × sign mostly disappears. 3x means 3 times x, and a raised dot (a ⋅ b) or parentheses take over so the sign isn’t confused with the variable x.

Typing a lowercase x for “times” is common, but the real sign is better wherever readers see it:

• It is centered and symmetrical, while x sits on the baseline and changes shape from font to font.
• Screen readers announce × as a multiplication sign, but x as the letter.
• Find and search tools treat them as different characters, so a search for “8.5 × 11” won’t match “8.5 x 11.”

Other look-alikes: · and ⋅ (raised dots) are the usual multiplication marks in algebra. ∗ (asterisk operator) and the keyboard asterisk mean multiply in programming and spreadsheets. ✕ (multiplication X) is a decorative dingbat often used for close buttons, not for math.

• Mac: open the Character Viewer with Control+Command+Space and search “multiplication,” or add a text replacement in System Settings > Keyboard.
• Word: in an equation (Alt+=), type \times and press space.
• Android (Gboard): × is on the second symbols page.
• iPhone: no default key; copy it here or create a text replacement such as “timesx” → ×.
• LaTeX: \times for ×, \cdot for ⋅.
• Programming and Excel: always use the asterisk, as in =A1*B1. A × inside a formula is an error.