I would like to take issue with Ruth Merton over her reading of 4 x 3 as four lots of 3 (TES, January 17). This is incorrect and misleading.
Four + 3, 4 - 3, and 4 divided by 3 are all operations done to the 4 and not the 3. Consequently, in the case of 4 x 3, something must be done to the 4 (and not the 3) and so this should be seen as three lots of 4. One should, therefore, interpret 4 x 3 as being either 4 being repeated three times, or 4 multiplied three times, but it certainly isn’t 3 repeated four times!
PETER CRITCHLEY Willow Cottage Fen Road Pakenham Bury St Edmunds Suffolk
