[mseebach]

> The only place I've ever seen × or ÷ being used in arithmetics was primary school. No idea why they use them.

Perhaps because the other prominent use is on the buttons of every single calculator in the world.

[kps]

I recall using × and ÷ in primary school, before the advent of portable calculators.

I know that's mere anecdotal evidence, but I believe there do exist reliable documentary sources from that era.

[mseebach]

Clearly, the idea to put those symbols on calculator buttons didn't come from nowhere. I think our collective point is that there exists a separate tradition for using × and ÷.