Why is multiplication treated as an operation when it's actually already implied into the concept of "number" itself?
a*b is not an operation between 2 numbers; it is actually an operation on another operation. When you do "a*b" you're not actually applying "*" to "a" and "b". Instead you're applying "a" to "b".
That's why you can ditch the "*" and just write down "ab".
The very concept of "multiplication" as a standalone operation should be entirely removed from mathematics.
Kids should not be taught how to "multiply numbers", instead they should be taught how to "apply numbers"
Prove me wrong.