Mathematician shares easy hand multiplication trick that nearly nobody knows
Not everyone is good at math. In fact, 37% of teens aged 13-17 found it to be the most difficult subject.
Even though we’re in the age of smartphones and calculators, it doesn’t mean that we should forget how to manually multiply numbers.
Believe it or not, it’s an essential skill. You’ll never know when you’ll find yourself needing to do really quick math.
For people struggling to multiply large numbers by hand, there’s a viral video you need to see.
Uploaded by MindYourDecision, the video has more than 2.5 million views. This just goes to show the number of people who want to be better at math.
The video teaches how to multiply any two numbers between 6 and 10 using just your hands.
To start learning the trick, you need to hold your hands in front of you. Imagine marking each finger from 6 to 10. You need to go from your thumb to your pinky finger. This applies to each hand.
For example, multiply 7 by 8.
To get the answer, you’ll need to line up your index finger (left) with your middle finger (right).
Start counting the two fingers that are touching as well as the fingers below them. The answer to this will be the tens digit of your answer.
After that, count the fingers right above the touching ones on each hand.
Multiply them. The product will be the units digit of your answer.
Let’s go over it again.
When you multiply 7 by 8 using this method, you’ll find 5 fingers touching. And when you count the fingers above the touching ones, you’ll get 3 and 2. The answer is 56.
Most of the people who’ve seen the video were amazed.
One viewer said:
“Much easier to just remember the tables. Once the numbers have penetrated your braincells, they usually stay there for the rest of your life.”
Another one commented:
“Thank you!!! I googled easiest way to learn multiplication for my 3rd grader and I came across this very useful video!!!! I’ve been out of school for a very long time so this helped me soooo much!!! 🤯”
Of course, there are still people who prefer memorizing the multiplication table. One of them said:
“I feel like this is more complicated and time consuming than just memorizing the multiplication table. You’ll save more time in exams and can even save from being looked strangely by your teacher.”
The video gives a reason for people to not hate math.
A lot of students don’t like math because it’s hard. A lot of them struggle with making calculations and memorizing equations. Fortunately, in the age of the internet, they can find tons of tips and tricks that can help them be better with the subject.
Like most things related to math, this multiplication trick can take some time to get used to. You’ll need to practice frequently in order to master it. However, once you’ve learned it, you’ll find multiplying big numbers easier.
Watch the full tutorial below!
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.