Meaning of multiplication

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A dialogue where students discuss multiplication.

Check out this dialogue between two calculus students (based on a true story):

Devyn: Hey Riley, I was reading about the history of mathematics.
Riley: Really? Tell me about it!
Devyn: Apparently, back in the day, mathematicians worried about writing things like: $3\times 4 + 5$
Riley: Why? What’s the matter here?
Devyn: Well, they thought of $3\times 4$ as an area. But $5$ was thought of as a length. Apparently they worried whether it made sense to add “areas” and “lengths.”
Riley: Hmmm. We don’t seem to worry about that now. I wonder why?

What are some ways to interpret $3\times 4$ ?

Answer will vary.