In mathematics, an operation associates two or more members of a set with one of the members of the set.
A binary operation matches two members of a set with one of the members of the set.
The basic operations in mathematics are addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and exponentiation.
Given the binary operation of addition, the two numbers twelve and four are associated with the number sixteen.
(12, 4) = 16 (more commonly written as 12 + 4 = 16).
Given the binary operation of subtraction, the two numbers twelve and four are associated with the number eight.
(12, 4) = 8 (more commonly written as 12 - 4 = 8).
Given the binary operation of multiplication, the two numbers twelve and four are associated with the number forty-eight.
(12, 4) = 48 (more commonly written as 12 x 4 = 48).
Given the binary operation of division, the two numbers twelve and four are associated with the number three.
(12, 4) = 3 (more commonly written as 12 ÷ 4 = 3).
Given the binary operation of division, the two numbers twelve and four are associated with the number 20 736.
(12, 4) = 20 736 (more commonly written as 124 = 20 736).
The main operation in mathematics is addition, subtraction being the inverse operation of addition.
In the hierarchy of operations, addition and subtraction are considered to be at the same level.
Multiplication is repeated addition, with division being the inverse operation of multiplication.
In the hierarchy of operations, multiplication and division are considered to be at a higher level then addition and subtraction since multiplication is based on addition.
Exponentiation (raising one number to the exponent of another number) is repeated multiplication.
In the hierarchy of operations, exponentiation is considered to be at a higher level then multiplication since exponentiation is based on multiplication.
This hierarchy of operations determines the order in which operations must take place, often referred to as the order of operations.