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American Heritage Dictionary:

mul·ti·ply¹

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(mŭl'tə-plī')

v., -plied, -ply·ing, -plies.

v.tr.

1. To increase the amount, number, or degree of.
2. Mathematics. To perform multiplication on.

v.intr.

1. To grow in amount, number, or degree. See synonyms at increase.
2. To breed or propagate.
3. Mathematics. To perform multiplication.

[Middle English multiplien, from Old French multiplier, from Latin multiplicāre, from multiplex, multiplex. See multiplex.]

mul·ti·ply² (mŭl'tə-plē')
adv.
In many or multiple ways.                         

                                                     MULTIPLY

THE DEFINITION ABOVE IS SO THAT YOU CAN SEE THAT IT MEANS TO INCREASE.
NOW THE SYMBOL OF MULTIPLY IS THE ( X )
THE SYMBOL IS THE ORDER OF ACTION THAT IS TO BE TAKEN.
THEREFORE IF THE SYMBOL X IS PLACED, THEN IT MEANS TO INCREASE.
IF THE SYMBOL -- IS PLACED , THEN IT IS THE ORDER TO SUBTRACT OR DECREASE ETC, ETC,
REMEMBERING TO FOLLOW THE GIVEN ORDER ACCORDING TO THE SYMBOL, THEN TELL ME WHAT IS THE ANSWER TO THIS >>>>>       1X1=