there is two ways to do this
4+4+4 = 12
or
4*3=12
either way the answer is 12 4*3 is just like a shortcut of writing it out instead of having to add the numbers together. When it is "4 times 3" it is saying what is the sum of 4 added 3 times? another example can be 9*9 which is like the simplified version of 9+9+9+9+9+9+9+9+9= 81 9*9 = 81 which is the same thing. try this with other numbers and you will see that it will all result the same way.
* = times or "x" which is the multiplication sign