In mathematics, the word ‘of’ typically indicates a multiplication operation. For instance, when you see a phrase like ‘half of 20,’ it is understood as multiplying 20 by 0.5, which gives you 10.
For example:
- To calculate ‘a third of 12,’ you would compute it as:
- 12 × (1/3) = 4
It’s important to recognize that ‘of’ connects two quantities in a way that helps us find parts of a whole or ratios between numbers. This usage is common in various mathematical expressions and problems involving fractions, percentages, and more.