In primary school mathematics more than 20 years ago (before 1999), the number before the multiplication symbol in the multiplication formula is called the multiplicand, and the number after the multiplication symbol is called the multiplier. Reading the multiplication formula from left to right is different from reading it from right to left. For example, 5×6 is read as 5× 6. Or 6 times 5.

Since 2000, the multiplicand and multiplier are no longer distinguished, and the reading method is no longer divided and multiplied.