An operation uses an operand on two numbers to generate a new number. The most common operands are:

• Addition $+$
• Subtraction $-$
• Multiplication $\cdot$
• Division $\div$
• Exponentiation $x^a$

Addition is to add two numbers, for example adding two and three equals five. The numbers added are called terms and the result is a sum. The symbol between the terms is a plus sign, $+.$

Subtraction is to remove one value from another. For example, removing four from seven equals three. The numbers used in the subtraction is called terms and the result is a difference.

Multiplication is actually repeated addition. If a number is added multiple times, it can be written as a multiplication instead.

When $3$ is multiplied by $2,$ the numbers are called factors and the result is called a product.

Division is to divide a number into parts. For example, sharing $12$ cookies with $4$ persons, each person will have $3$ cookies. The number divided is called the numerator and the number of parts to divide in is called the denominator. Finally, the result is the quotient.

Division can be interpreted as backwards multiplication. If the quotient and the denominator are multiplied, the product will be the numerator. $3 \cdot 4 = 12$

When a number is multiplied by itself it can be expressed as the number is raised to the number of times it's multiplied by itself. $\underbrace{ b \cdot b \cdot \ldots \cdot b }_n= b^n$ The number $b$ is called the base and $n$ is the exponent, and together they represent a power.