cross-multiply

verb

To set the product of the extremes of a proportion equal to the product of its means.

“Cross-multiplying 3#47;5#61;x#47;2 yields 3#92;times2#61;5x.”

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Meanings

verbcross-multiply (third-person singular simple present cross-multiplies, present participle cross-multiplying, simple past and past participle cross-multiplied)

present singular third person cross-multiplies · participle present cross-multiplying · participle past cross-multiplied · past cross-multiplied

  1. To set the product of the extremes of a proportion equal to the product of its means.

    Cross-multiplying 3#47;5#61;x#47;2 yields 3#92;times2#61;5x.

Origin

From cross- + multiply.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

cross-multiply. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cross-multiply

MLA

“cross-multiply.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cross-multiply. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cross-multiply,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cross-multiply.

Source: cross-multiply on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.