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 66

  1. Select a 2-digit number.
  2. Multiply it by 6.
  3. Add the digits from right to left
    (see examples, below).

   Example:

  1. The 2-digit number chosen to multiply by 66 is 54.
  2. Multiply by 6: 6 x 54 = 300 + 24 = 324
  3. The last digit is 4: _ _ _ 4
  4. Add right to left. 4 + 2 = 6: _ _ 6 _
    2 + 3 = 5: _ 5 _ _
    First digit is 3: 3 _ _ _
  5. So 66 x 54 = 3564.

   See the pattern?

  1. If the number to be multiplied by 66 is 92:
  2. Multiply by 6: 6 x 92 = 540 + 12 = 552
  3. The last digit is 2: _ _ _ 2
  4. Add right to left. 2 + 5 = 7: _ _ 7 _
    5 + 5 = 10 (carry 1) : _ 0 _ _
    First digit + carry: 5 + 1 = 6: 6 _ _ _
  5. So 66 x 92 = 6072.

Challenge a friend and BEAT THE CALCULATOR!


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7 December 1998
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