BEATCALC:  Beat the Calculator!

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Back to Calculation Tips & Tricks
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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 two 2-digit numbers
               
(same 1st digit)

  1. Select two 2-digit numbers with the same first digit.
  2. Multiply their second digits (keep the carry).   _ _ _ X
  3. Multiply the sum of the second digits by the first digit,
    add the carry (keep the carry).   _ _ X _
  4. Multiply the first digits (add the carry).   X X _ _

   Example:

  1. If the first number is 42, choose 45 as the second number (any 2-digit number with first digit 4).
  2. Multiply the last digits: 2 x 5 = 10 (keep carry)  
    _ _ _ 0
  3. Multiply the sum of the 2nd digits by the first:
    5 + 2 = 7; 7 x 4 = 28; 28 + 1 = 29 (keep carry)  
    _ _ 9 _
  4. Multiply the first digits (add the carry)
    4 x 4 = 16; 16 + 2 = 18                           
    1 8 _ _

  5. So 42 x 45 = 1890.

   See the pattern?

  1. If the first number is 62, choose 67 as the second number
    (any 2-digit number with first digit 6).
  2. Multiply the last digits: 2 x 7 = 14 (keep carry)  
    _ _ _ 4
  3. Multiply the sum of the 2nd digits by the first (add carry):
    2 + 7 = 9; 6 x 9 = 54; 54 + 1 = 55 (keep carry)  
    _ _ 5 _
  4. Multiply the first digits (add the carry)
    6 x 6 = 36; 36 + 5 = 41                           
    4 1 _ _

  5. So 62 x 67 = 4154.


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3 November 1997
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