Definition
Operation
A mathematical action that follows a rule to turn input numbers into a result.
Continue from this idea into connected AXIO math.
Defining relationship
The operation is the math action; the result is what the action makes.
An operation is a defined rule that takes one or more input values and produces an output value. In elementary arithmetic, the main operations are addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
- 1input
- 2operation
- 3input
- 4result
The operation is the action; the result is what the action produces.
What it means
An operation tells what kind of number-work to do. The symbols +, −, ×, and ÷ show four common operations, but the operation is the action itself, not just its symbol.
Remember it
The operation is the math action; the result is what the action makes.
Example
In 18 ÷ 3 = 6, division is the operation, 18 and 3 are the input numbers, and 6 is the result.
Watch for
The symbol “+” names addition in a calculation, but a symbol by itself is notation, not the whole operation.
Common mix-up
An operation is not the same as an answer. Subtraction is the operation; 11 is the result of 18 − 7.
Exact meaning
An operation is a defined rule that takes one or more input values and produces an output value. In elementary arithmetic, the main operations are addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.