Whenever PowerShell asks for user input or reads text file content, the results are text strings. If you expect numbers and want to calculate, make sure you cast them to a numeric format. Have a look:
PS> $number = Read-Host 'Enter a number' Enter a number: 100 PS> $number * 12 100100100100100100100100100100100100
Now try the same with casting:
PS> $number = [Double](Read-Host 'Enter a number') Enter a number: 100 PS> $number * 12 1200