Why Multiplication Confuses Students: 5 Symbols That Mean the Same Thing

(And Why It Matters More Than You Think)

“Wait, that dot means multiply too?”

Yep. And so does the asterisk. And the parentheses. And that space between 6 and x.

One of the biggest early misunderstandings I see in tutoring sessions isn’t about how to multiply — it’s about how multiplication is written.

Students often get thrown off not by the math itself, but by how it’s written and formatted. Especially once variables and decimals are introduced, suddenly things that look different are actually just the same operation: multiplication. Your student that finds it hard to start a problem, might be struggling to comprehend what the math problem is saying/doing.

Here Are 5 Ways Multiplication Shows Up:

1. The “×” symbol – the one we all start with in elementary school

(7 × 7), (1 × 2), (n × n)

2. The dot “•” symbol – often used in middle school & algebra

(3 • 2), (25 • 5), (n • n)

3. Parentheses “( )” next to a number or expression

(2)(4), (15)(7 + 2), (n)(n)

4. A number next to a variable (implied multiplication)

6x, 7y, 34(2x)

5. The asterisk “*” – often used in programming or typing

(5 * 7), (n * n)

Why This Trips Students Up:

• In early math, we mostly use “×”, but that stops once variables are introduced because expressions like 7x × 6 would be confusing.
• So we switch symbols, but students aren’t always taught that these symbols are interchangeable.
• Even the dot symbol “•” can be mistaken for a decimal point, especially when handwritten (6 • .5 vs. 6 x .5?!).
• A student’s ability to “read” math impacts their ability to do math. That includes recognizing formatting.

See It in Action:

I break this down in my first episode of Math Fluency - The Unspoken Rules of Math.

Watch it here or checkout my Instagram post to learn how I teach this to students and how I help my tutors catch this early:

Instagram

Takeaway for Students & Parents:

If your student struggles with new math problems, don’t always assume they don’t know it. They might just not recognize it.

Helping them “read” multiplication in all its forms makes a huge difference.

💡 Try this: Make flashcards showing the 5 different forms. Mix and match. Practice reading them out loud.

Takeaway for Tutors:

Don’t skip over this. It’s tiny, but crucial.

Check in with your student:

“Do you recognize this as multiplication?”

Use different forms on purpose so they become fluent — just like you’d expose them to different types of questions on a test.

Want to Work With Me?

• I offer private tutoring for students who need strong, clear, personalized support.
• I also train tutors to spot gaps like these and build sessions that work.