Quickly multiply when the unit digits add up to 10

Quickly multiply when the unit digits add up to 10

Introduction

This mathematics trick helps to quickly multiply a pair of numbers when:

  • The sum of unit digits of the pair should be equal to 10.
  • The remaining digits of both the numbers should be exactly the same.
  • Examples of such pair of numbers: 73 77, 32 38, 41 49, 134 136, 65 65.

The steps are...

Choose a pair of numbers as an example to understand the steps:
Finding the product of 38 32...
Step 1:
Ignoring the unit digit (or the ones digit) of either multiplicand or multiplier, take the remaining digits as a number.

Here

Multiplicand is 38

Multiplier is 32

Remaining digits as a number is 3

38 32 is ????
Step 2:
Multiply the remaining digits as a number by its successor. This product forms the beginning digits of the required solution of the given multiplication problem.

Here the remaining digits as a number is 3.

Its successor is 4.

And their product is 3 4 = 12.

38 32 is 12??
Step 3:
Multiply the unit digits of the multiplier and the multiplicand.

Here the unit digits of the multiplicand and the multiplier 8 and 2 respectively.

And their product is 8 2 = 16

Step 4:
Place the products from Step 2 and Step 3 together to get the required solution of the given multiplication problem.

Product from Step 2: 12

Product from Step 3: 16

The required solution is: 1216

38 32 is 1216

Quick application of the steps on all the given numbers

  • Step 1: Ignoring the unit digit (or the ones digit) of either multiplicand or multiplier, take the remaining digits as a number.
  • Step 2: Multiply the remaining digits as a number by its successor.
  • Step 3: Multiply the unit digits of the multiplier and the multiplicand.
  • Step 4: Place the products from Step 2 and Step 3 to get the required solution of the given multiplication problem.
 Step 1:Step 2:Step 3:Step 4:
38 3233 4 = 128 2 = 161216
81 8988 9 = 721 9 = 097209
22 2822 3 = 62 8 = 16616
44 4644 5 = 204 6 = 242024
59 5155 6 = 309 1 = 093009
106 1041010 11 = 1106 4 = 2411024
63 6766 7 = 423 7 = 214221
76 7477 8 = 566 4 = 245624
17 1311 2 = 27 3 = 21221
95 9599 10 = 905 5 = 259025

Some pairs of bigger numbers

Let's use the same trick to quickly find the product of some pairs of bigger numbers whose sum of unit digits is equal to 10.

What you need to know before you start...

You need to master Multiplication Tables (1 to 20) and Squares (1 to 30). Memorizing these essential concepts is crucial for any mathematics student. Our specially crafted worksheets on Multiplication and Squares will help you solidify this knowledge. Not only will it benefit this blog post, but it will also prove invaluable for numerous other topics covered on our blog.
Use the Times Tables Reference to learn and memorize.
  • Step 1: Ignoring the unit digit (or the ones digit) of either multiplicand or multiplier, take the remaining digits as a number.
  • Step 2: Multiply the remaining digits as a number by its successor using the trick.
  • Step 3: Multiply the unit digits of the multiplier and the multiplicand.
  • Step 4: Place the products from Step 2 and Step 3 to get the required solution of the given multiplication problem.
 Step 1:Step 2:Step 3:Step 4:
138 13213
13 14 is
132 + 13 = 182 Or142 - 14 = 182
8 2 = 1618216
166 16416
16 17 is
162 + 16 = 272 Or172 - 17 = 272
6 4 = 2427224
159 15115
15 16 is
152 + 15 = 240 Or162 - 16 = 240
9 1 = 0924009
187 18318
18 19 is
182 + 18 = 342 Or192 - 19 = 342
7 3 = 2134221
195 19519
19 20 is
192 + 19 = 380 Or202 - 20 = 380
5 5 = 2538025
251 25925
25 26 is
252 + 25 = 650 Or262 - 26 = 650
1 9 = 0965009
284 28628
28 29 is
282 + 28 = 812 Or292 - 29 = 812
4 6 = 2481224
213 21721
21 22 is
212 + 21 = 462 Or222 - 22 = 462
3 7 = 2146221
112 11811
11 12 is
112 + 11 = 132 Or122 - 12 = 132
2 8 = 1613216
305 30530
30 31 is
302 + 30 = 930 Or312 - 31 = 930
5 5 = 2593025
297 29329
29 30 is
292 + 29 = 870 Or302 - 30 = 870
7 3 = 2187021
246 24424
24 25 is
242 + 24 = 600 Or252 - 25 = 600
6 4 = 2460024
279 27127
27 28 is
272 + 27 = 756 Or282 - 28 = 756
9 1 = 0975609
178 17217
17 18 is
172 + 17 = 306 Or182 - 18 = 306
8 2 = 1630616
225 22522
22 23 is
222 + 22 = 506 Or232 - 23 = 506
5 5 = 2550625
204 20620
20 21 is
202 + 20 = 420 Or212 - 21 = 420
4 6 = 2442024
143 14714
14 15 is
142 + 14 = 210 Or152 - 15 = 210
3 7 = 2121021
261 26926
26 27 is
262 + 26 = 702 Or272 - 27 = 702
1 9 = 0970209
122 12812
12 13 is
122 + 12 = 156 Or132 - 13 = 156
2 8 = 1615616
235 23523
23 24 is
232 + 23 = 552 Or242 - 24 = 552
5 5 = 2555225