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Vedic Sutra - All from 9 and Last from 10

Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow starYellow star
  • Problem
  • Student Solutions

With this method you only ever need multiplication tables up to 5 times 5. It is one of many ancient Indian sutras and this one involves a cross subtraction method which, according to old historical traditions, is responsible for the acceptance of the ´ mark as the sign of multiplication. Here is a very simple example of the method. Can you give a good explanation of WHY it works?

Suppose we want to multiply 9 by 7. We subtract each number from 10 and, using these differences (or deficiencies), write:

9-1
7-3
6 3

The product has two parts, left and right.
To get the right part (or units digit) multiply the deficiencies (1×3)
The left hand digit (tens digit) of the answer can be found in four different ways. Why do they all give the same answer?

  1. Subtract 10 from the sum of the two given numbers (9+7=16, 16-10=6)
  2. Subtract the sum of the two deficiencies (1+3=4) from 10 and you get 6.
  3. Cross subtract (9-3=6)
  4. Cross subtract (7-1=6)

This gives the answer 63.

Here are some more examples. Try some of your own.

9-1 8-2 9-1 8-2
6-4 7-3 9-1 5-5
5 4 5 6 8 1 4 0
Note: Here you
have to express
5 times 2 as
1 ten and 0 units.

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The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.

NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.

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