BEATCALC:  Beat the Calculator!

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From the BEATCALC mailing list:
a weekly service from B. Lee Clay, archived here by the Math Forum.
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   Multiplying a 2-digit number by 33

  1. Select a 2-digit number.
  2. Multiply it by 3.
  3. Add the digits from right to left
    (see examples, below).

   Example:

  1. The 2-digit number chosen to multiply by 33 is 38.
  2. Multiply by 3: 3 x 38 = 90 + 24 = 114
  3. The last digit is 4: _ _ _ 4.
  4. Add right to left. 4 + 1 = 5: _ _ 5 _
    1 + 1 = 2: _ 2 _ _
    First digit is 1: 1 _ _ _
  5. So 33 x 38 = 1254.

   See the pattern?

  1. If the number to be multiplied by 33 is 82:
  2. Multiply by 3: 3 x 82 = 246
  3. The last digit is 6: _ _ _ 6.
  4. Add right to left. 6 + 4 = 10: _ _ 0 _
    4 + 2 + 1 (carry) = 7: _ 7 _ _
    First digit is 2: 2 _ _ _
  5. So 33 x 82 = 2706.

Challenge a friend and BEAT THE CALCULATOR!


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8 June 1998
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