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What is the difference between the number obtained by multiplying a number by 0 and 1?

Published in Mathematics 1 min read

The difference is that multiplying any number by 0 results in 0, while multiplying any number by 1 results in the original number itself.

Explanation:

When we perform multiplication, we are essentially scaling a number. Multiplying by 1 leaves the original number unchanged, acting as an identity. Multiplying by 0, however, essentially "nullifies" the number, always resulting in zero.

Examples:

Here's a table illustrating the difference:

Number Multiplied by 0 Multiplied by 1
5 0 5
10 0 10
-3 0 -3
0 0 0
1 0 1

In summary:

Multiplying by zero always yields zero, effectively erasing the original number. Multiplying by one preserves the original number. The result is a difference equal to the original number.

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