Which of the following is not one of the basic arithmetic operations?

• A. Addition
• B. Subtraction
• C. Factoring
• D. Multiplication

Answer: (C)

Factoring is the correct choice because it is not classified as one of the basic arithmetic operations. The fundamental arithmetic operations include addition, subtraction, and multiplication, which are the core functions used for basic calculations involving numbers.

Addition involves combining numbers to find a total, subtraction is concerned with finding the difference between numbers, and multiplication is used for scaling a number by another.

Factoring, on the other hand, is a process used primarily in algebra where a number or expression is expressed as a product of its factors. This is more complex than the basic arithmetic operations and typically comes into play in higher-level mathematics when dealing with polynomials or finding divisors of numbers. Understanding these distinctions helps to clarify what constitutes basic arithmetic versus more advanced mathematical techniques.