WOLFRAM|DEMONSTRATIONS PROJECT

Multiplying with Lines

​
first number
214
second number
312
Add along the diagonals:
12
4
8
3
1
2
0
+
6
2
4
0
0
6
5
17
6
8
Add thenumbers above:
8
6
0
1
7
0
0
5
0
0
0
+
6
0
0
0
0
6
6
7
6
8
Traditionalway:
214
× 312
428
2140
+ 64200
66768
An alternative to the traditional way of multiplying two numbers. Take the digits of the first number and draw sets of vertical lines corresponding to each digit; then do the same with the digits of the other number, but draw the horizontal lines. Next, count the intersections of each pair of sets of lines (red points and green labels). Finally, add the numbers between diagonals from right to left (in blue). This procedure is equivalent to the usual "long multiplication" method (right).