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Francesca Posted 19 years ago
Science & IT
a 20x20 square
Hello everybody!
How do you read 'a 20x20 square' or 'a 20x30 rectangle'?
I know that when you say a simple multiplication like 6x8 you can say '6 multiplied by 8' or '6 times 8'.
Do I have to read 'a 20 times 20 square' or 'a 20 multiplied by 30 rectangle' as well?
Or do I have to say something like 'a rectangle 20 cm in lenght...' ?
Thank you in advance
How do you read 'a 20x20 square' or 'a 20x30 rectangle'?
I know that when you say a simple multiplication like 6x8 you can say '6 multiplied by 8' or '6 times 8'.
Do I have to read 'a 20 times 20 square' or 'a 20 multiplied by 30 rectangle' as well?
Or do I have to say something like 'a rectangle 20 cm in lenght...' ?
Thank you in advance
Top answer
You say a '20 by 20 square' or a '20 by 30 rectangle'. 'by' is frequently used for 2-way measurements - for example a piece of '2 by 4' is a length of timber a standard 2 inches deep and 4 inches wide.
- You say a '20 by 20 square' or a '20 by 30 rectangle'.
- 'by' is frequently used for 2-way measurements - for example a piece of '2 by 4' is a length of timber a standard 2 inches deep and 4 inches wide.
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6 Answers
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You say a '20 by 20 square' or a '20 by 30 rectangle'.
'by' is frequently used for 2-way measurements - for example a piece of '2 by 4' is a length of timber a standard 2 inches deep and 4 inches wide.
'by' is frequently used for 2-way measurements - for example a piece of '2 by 4' is a length of timber a standard 2 inches deep and 4 inches wide.
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Well, I don't know if this is of any interest to anyone here, but 4:3 and 16:9 (when referring to TVs, video formats, etc.) are pronounced the same way as 4x3 and 16x9 in English, while in Italian they sound like "four thirds", "sixteen ninths".
4:3 = four by three (Italian: quattro terzi)
16:9 = sixteen by nine (Italian: sedici noni)
4:3 = four by three (Italian: quattro terzi)
16:9 = sixteen by nine (Italian: sedici noni)
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It's interesting to find out that if someone says: "four by three", you could think about both: '4:3' and '4x3' 
hopefully that
hopefully that
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Yes, GG is right, it's also read as "four to three".
Anyway, be careful, I wasn't considering 4:3 as a division, that is 4/3 (in Italy 4:3 can also mean the same as 4/3). I was only referring to aspect ratios, video formats, TVs, etc. In that context, 16:9 is "sixteen by nine", also "sixteen to nine" (Italian "sedici noni").
If you consider the division 16/9 (also 16:9 in Italy), that's "
Anyway, be careful, I wasn't considering 4:3 as a division, that is 4/3 (in Italy 4:3 can also mean the same as 4/3). I was only referring to aspect ratios, video formats, TVs, etc. In that context, 16:9 is "sixteen by nine", also "sixteen to nine" (Italian "sedici noni").
If you consider the division 16/9 (also 16:9 in Italy), that's "
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