Multi-Digit Multiplication

Mental Math · Axiom Academy

LESSON Multi-Digit Multiplication Master advanced mental techniques for multiplying large numbers quickly and accurately 1. Breaking Down by Place Value The foundational technique for mental multiplication is to break numbers into tens and ones, then multiply each part separately. This leverages the distributive property of multiplication. Let's see how this works with 23 × 47 : When one number is close to a round number (like 50, 100, or 25), you can multiply by the round number first, then adjust. This often makes calculations much simpler. Perfect for problems like 48 × 12 , where 48 is close to 50: One of the most elegant shortcuts: when one number is even, you can double one factor and halve the other. The product stays the same, but the calculation becomes easier! Watch how 16 × 35 becomes trivial:

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