ARITHMATIC – LET’S MAKE IT A FUN (4)

Like addition, multiply is one of the important operations in arithmetic. In Vedic Math, there are many short cuts for multiply. To understand the multiply, if we say that it is a simple way of addition, there will be nothing wrong in it. Most of the times, I ask my students ‘Why? Why? 9 multiplied by 7 always give 63? Why not anything else? The answer is quite simple :

9
+ 9
+ 9
+ 9
+ 9
+ 9
+ 9
63

We can say that if 9 is added for 7 times, it gives 63 or we can say that multiply is a short cut for addition. Though it is exactly correct even then we can’t ignore the importance of multiplication. Just suppose that if we write 67 for 84 times and then add instead of multiplying 67 with 84, will there be no wastage of time and efforts? Here the multiply will be suitable. Forget this, if we are to multiply 2345671289 and 876956743, it would be near impossible to solve it through addition.

Now we will discuss different methods of multiplying. In shools, the children are taught to multiply the numbers with the same tradition method. That is :

51
X26
--------
306
102X
--------
1326
--------

This is an example of multiply without ‘carry’ and the multiplication with ‘carry’ is somewhat more tough. QMaths is such a method of teaching Mathematics that “Why and How” of every sum is made clear taking into account the basic of every sum of mathematics. We shall discuss many methods of multiplying being used in QMaths so that the basic concept of multiplying could be understood in a better way.

Let us try to understand the system adopted by us to multiply any two digit number with any other two digit number:


56
X 73
--------
3518 ( 7X5 = 35 and 6 X 3 = 18)
15X ( 5X3 = 15 CROSS MULTIPLY )
42X ( 6X7 = 42 CROSS MULTIPLY )
--------
4088
--------

Second Example:

82
X 67
--------
4814 ( 8X6 = 48 and 2X7 = 14)
56X ( 8X7 = 56 CROSS MULTIPLY )
12X ( 6X2 = 12 CROSS MULTIPLY )
--------
5494
--------

Now try to multiply 46 X 78, 37 X 82 and 58 X 27 and see if this method is easier than the common one.

Let us have a look at another interesting method, the ‘Box Method’ of multiplying. If 36 is to be multiplied by 72, the following method can also be applied:



One more example: to multiply 63 by 28



One step ahead: to multiply 346 by 27



Now try to multiply 26 X 78, 317 X 82 and 88 X 27 and see if this method is interesting and easier than the common one.
To solve the multiplication sum, another formula that we call ‘STAR FORMULA’ can also be used. Let’s try to understand that one also:

2 4 6

3 1 5

2 4 6
X 3 1 5
------------
6 4 2 6 0
1 3 2 3
------------
7 7 4 9 0
------------

In this case, we write the ‘carry’ below the previous number as given underline in the given examples. To understand in a more accurately, go for another solution with this formula:

1 7 3
X 2 4 6
------------
2 8 0 4 8
1 4 5 1
------------
4 2 5 5 8
------------

Another more method based on the basic concept of multiplication can be understood by the rules of ‘cutting lines’. Let’s discuss:



Other than the above, there are many methods of multiplying. We have discussed here five different methods of multiplying. If we teach the students multiply with the help of all the above given methods, it is sure the students would be more interested in mathematics.

We can discuss here dozens of shortcuts related only to multiply but shortage of time and space does not allow us to do so. Even then we would discuss Vedic Math SUTRAs to multiply 999994 x 999992 and 674532 x 999999. In addition to these, we would discuss formulas to solve in single line 9998 x 9998 x 9998, 4343434343 x 98 and 999992 x 9996 which are not covered in Vedic Math.

I can understand that it is not possible to convey every thing just by writing about that, so I would request the readers to visit my website www.qmaths.com and pose any question as and when they like.

More in the coming articles…………………….