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My dictionary (EN → JP) suggests to translate "Three multiplied by four is
twelve" as

> 3 × 4 = 12

without giving a hint as to how to read this in Japanese.

How do you read simple arithmetic equations (involving only +, –, × and ÷)
like the one above in Japanese?
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2013-08-15T07:59:16.903
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readings mathematics
How do you read simple arithmetic equations in Japanese?
`+`: 足{た}す  
`-`: 引{ひ}く  
`/`: 割{わ}る  
`*`: 掛{か}ける

And you just say the terms normally in order. So your example of `3 * 4 = 12`
would be ３かける４は１２. Note that = becomes は, similar to how we use "is" in
English. As @blutorange mentioned, you can use イコール to mean "equals," however
in most situations you'll be good using は.

You learn these things quickly when listening to students recite their 九九{くく}.

For some bonus terminology, you can refer to exponents by using #乗{じょう}, so
like ２の二乗は４ or ２の３乗は８. Similarly you can refer to roots with #乗根{じょうこん}
(although as @jovanni points out it's normal to use 平方根{へいほうこん} for square
roots).
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2013-08-15T08:29:13.993
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2013-08-21T07:22:38.600
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You can read the arithmetic operators as follows:

```

    　　　+　　　たす　　　　（足す）
    　　　-　　　ひく　　　　（引く）
    　　　×　　　かける　　　（掛ける）
    　　　÷　　　わる　　　　（割る）
    
```

In place of the equals sign, you'd most likely use a particle such as `は`,
much as we might say "three times four **_is_** twelve" in English to make a
complete sentence out of it. Your example looks like this:

```

    　　３　　　×　　　４　＝　１２
    　　さん、かける、よんは、じゅうに
    
```
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2013-08-15T08:29:18.320
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answer
I would like to offer one more alternative, that of using になります at the end of
this sentence. This is more formal and less common than just leaving it out.

> 3 × 4 = 12
>
> さんかけるよんはじゅうにになります。
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2013-08-21T14:39:40.667
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