Skip to content

Comment on Ethiopian Multiplication

Comments

To multiply 14 and 12 in my head, I break it down like this:

    14 * 12 = (14 * 10) + (14 * 2) = 168
Anyone else do that?

Not for 14 times 12, as that is (13+1) times (13-1). 'everybody' knows 1^2 = 1 and 13^2 = 169, so 14 times 12 = 169 - 1 = 168.

Yes, I process everything in 10% as well. 15% tip on $34? 10% = $3.4 so half of 3.4 is 1.7, combine them for $5.10.

Sometimes. Or to multiply by 25, multiply by 100 and divide by 4. I always meant to study the trachtenberg method but never got around to it

I do this sometimes.

Sometimes I refactor at first:

    14*12=28*6=56*3=56*2+56=112+56=168
or
    14*12=7*8*3=21*8=160+8

Similar here, but based on memorization. Since I know twelve squared ((12 * 12) = 144) by rote, the rest is easy.

  14 * 12 = (12^2) + (12*2) = 168

I tend to use the tens as well, but in this case I would have used the 12*12 + 24 trick. I also use some of the others listed here, so it makes me happy to know there are people like me out there.

AboutSource Built by g1lg1l

Hackerly is an independent reader for Hacker News, built on the public HN API. Not affiliated with Y Combinator.