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Vedic Multiplication
by purduecer on January 6, 2009

Table of Contents

Vedic Multiplication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Intro: Vedic Multiplication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 1: Multiplication...The Standard Algorithm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 2: Enter the Sutra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Step 3: An Algebraic Perspective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Step 4: Algebraic Multiplication for Higher Numbers of Digits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Step 5: Vedic Multiplication Examples: 2-Digit by 2-Digit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Step 6: Vedic Multiplication Example: 3-Digit by 3-Digit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Step 7: More Examples and Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

http://www.instructables.com/id/Vedic-Multiplication/
 Author:purduecer NBitWonder
When life gives me lemons, I make batteries. Check out my website at http://nbitwonder.com

Intro: Vedic Multiplication

Some time ago (this past summer, to be exact) I created my first instructable. A fun little trick, really, about how to quickly extract the cube roots of large integers
mentally. Included in the comments section of this instructable was a very useful comment from mahi16 which suggested I incorporate Vedic Mathematics methods into
my technique. Having never heard of it before, I investigated it, and found myself intrigued by the clever strategies employed in the ancient Indian system. I got a book on
it this year for Christmas and am researching the different techniques and methodologies presented in it.

So, without further ado, I present to you Vedic Multiplication

Step 1: Multiplication...The Standard Algorithm

Most of us remember the standard algorithm for multiplication (well, those of us not being brought up under the hilarious joke that is modern math education in some
schools, anyway). To demonstrate it, consider the multiplication problem 52x45. This is done in the following steps (which are demonstrated in photos as well):
1) 5 times 2 is 10 (put down a 0, carry the 1)
2) 5*5 is 25, add the carry (put down a 6, carry a 2)
3) On a second line, add a 0 to the 1's place (4 has place value of 10)
4) 4 times 2 is 8 (put down an 8)
5) 4 times 5 is 20 (put down a 0, carry a 2)
6) Add together the 2 numbers (260 + 2080) to get the product (2340).

This method is general and efficient, to be sure. However, it is not hard to see that this method can involve considerable tedium and rigor when you start doing more
involved multiplications (3 digits by 3 digits or more).

Read on to see how we can more efficiently multiply, the Vedic way!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Vedic-Multiplication/
Step 2: Enter the Sutra
The Vedic method (the general method, at least) is based on the Urdhva-Tiryagbhyam sutra. A very terse sutra, it simply translates in English to say "vertically and
crosswise". The sutra is rather vague, so the technique, as well as an algebraic analysis of the technique, is presented in the following steps.

Step 3: An Algebraic Perspective

As most readers are hopefully aware, all numbers n the base 10 number system (and number systems of any other base, for that matter) consist of a number of digits.
Each digit represents a multiple times a power of 10 (or whatever the number system's base is). So, for example, given a number like 52, we could rewrite it as 5*10+2.

Algebraically speaking, we can express any 3-digit number as:

ax+b (where a, and b are integers).

So, suppose we wanted to multiply 2 2-digit numbers. We can express them in polynomial form. Then, by foiling:

(ax+b)(cx+d) = acx2 +(ad+bc)x+bd

Read on to see how we take the algebraic multiplication to higher numbers of digits.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Vedic-Multiplication/
Step 4: Algebraic Multiplication for Higher Numbers of Digits
So, for brief review, 2-digit by 2-digit algebraic multiplication goes as follows (x in all of the following examples is the base of the number system being used, which is
usually 10):

(ax+b)(cx+d) = acx2 +(ad+bc)x+bd

Expanding to 3-digit by 3-digit algebraic multiplication:

(ax2 +bx+c)(dx2 +ex+f) = adx4 +(ae+bd)x3 +(af+be+cd)x2 +(bf+ec)x+cf

Now, 4-digit by 4-digit algebraic multiplication:

(ax3 +bx2 +cx+d)(ex3 +fx2 +gx+h) = aex6 +(af+be)x5 +(ag+bf+ce)x4 +(ah+bg+cf+de)x3 +(bh+cg+df)x2 +(ch+dg)x+dh

Finally, 5-digit by 5-digit multiplication:

(ax4 +bx3 +cx2 +dx+e)(fx4 +gx3 +hx2 +ix+j) = afx8 +(ag+bf)x7 +(ah+bg+cf)x6 +(ai+bh+cg+df)x5 +(aj+bi+ch+dg+ef)x4 +(bj+ci+dh+eg)x3 +(cj+di+eh)x2 +(dj+ei)x+ej

By looking carefully at the products of the above multiplications, a pattern becomes noticeable. The pattern looks something like this:

1) For the highest digit of the the product, simply write the product of the highest digits of the 2 numbers.
2) The process for the middle digits is a little tricky to explain using words. For each successive digit, you cross-multiply the highest digit of the top number by the next
highest digit of the bottom number and the highest digit of the bottom number by the next highest digit of the top number and add these numbers together. You continue
on for all subsequent digits by decrementing the digit on the bottom number, cross-multiplying, incrementing the bottom digit while decrementing the top digit, and
summing the products. If this confuses you, fear not, it will be explained via examples on the following pages.
3) For the lowest digit of the product, multiply the lowest digits of the numbers being multiplied.
4) Throughout this process, only one digit can be kept per place, thus if your sum is higher than 9, you will have to write the ones digit only and implement a carry to the
next higher place in the number (or carry to several higher places if your sum exceeds 99).

Coming up, examples!

Step 5: Vedic Multiplication Examples: 2-Digit by 2-Digit

In this step (and the following steps) we will attempt to clarify the vedic procedure through the use of several examples. Under each example, there will be a number of
steps (indicated by numbers). Each step has a separate picture, so feel free to use those to follow along with what's going on.

Example 1: 42*21
1. Multiply the 2 highest digits (4 and 2), resulting in an 8.
2. For the next higher digit, cross multiply 4*1 (4) and 2*2 (4), and add together, producing the middle digit of 8.
3. For the lowest digit, multiply the 2 lowest digits (1*2) together, resulting in a 2.
4. Put all of the digits together to produce your answer (882)

A quick check on the calculator indicates our answer is indeed correct.

One thing that can and should be noted here is that the order in which you go through for the vedic process does not actually matter. So, we can similarly start with the
lowest digit and work our way up to the highest digit.

Example 2: 67*23 (Starting with the lowest digit and working our way left)
1. Lowest Digit: Multiply the 2 lowest digits together (7*3), to get 21. Only one digit can be kept per place, so write a 1 and carry a 2 over to the next position.
2. Now, move over by 1 position on top, (3 will be multiplied by 6 now) and cross multiply pairs, decrementing the position on top while incrementing the position on the
bottom. That is to say, multiply 3*6 (18) and 2*7 (14) and add them together (32). Write a 2, carry a 3 to the next position.

3. At this point, we have reached the end of the number, and thus incrementing the position on top is not possible. Thus, we simply increment the position on the bottom
(2 will be multiplied by 6) and no cross multiplication will occur (as incrementing the bottom digit is not possible, we have reached the end of the number). So, 2*6 will be
12, so write a 2 and carry a 1.

4. Now that the multiplication has been completed, we have 2 numbers. The one on top is all of ones digits from the multiplications, and the one on the bottom is all of the
carries that occurred. So, simply add these 2 numbers (221 and 1320) together, resulting in the answer (1541).

In the following steps, we will perform examples to expand the idea to higher orders of digits.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Vedic-Multiplication/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Vedic-Multiplication/
Step 6: Vedic Multiplication Example: 3-Digit by 3-Digit
Example 3: 341*562
At this point, some of the faint of heart may be reaching for their calculators. Be strong, you can handle this using the vedic technique with relative ease (and considerably
less writing) than that which you probably learned in elementary school.

1) Ones Digit: 2*1 = 2

2) Tens Digit: 2*4+6*1 = 8+6 = 14 (write a 4, carry a 1)
3) Hundreds Digit: 2*3+4*6+5*1 = 6+24+5 = 35 (write a 5, carry a 3)
Notice at this point that we have reached the end of the top number, that is to say, 2 can not be multiplied by anything else, as there are no more digits. Thus, for the
thousands digit we shall multiply 6 and 3 first, and then for the ten thousands digit, 5 and 3. (read on for the steps)
4) Thousands Digit: 6*3 + 5*4 = 18+20 = 38 (write an 8, carry a 3)
5) Ten Thousands Digit: 5*3 = 15 (we've reached the end of the multiplication, so feel free to simply write 15 rather than carry a 1)
6) Add in the carries to produce the final answer: 191642 (verified via calculator)

At this point it should be noted that the 2 numbers need not have the same number of digits. For example, if a 3-digit number were to be multiplied by a 2-digit number,
just follow the formula for 3-digit by 3-digit multiplication and just pad out the missing digits with zeros.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Vedic-Multiplication/
Step 7: More Examples and Practice
This step is dedicated to a few additional examples. The viewer is encouraged to work these out on his or her own and verify that they have done the technique correctly.
Attached are images showing my work for each of the practice problems below.

All of the problems below have been verified by calculator. Also, the vedic method should be executable much more quickly than the standard multiplication algorithm (the
author of this instructable performed all of the multiplications below in under a minute each, including the last one).

1) 32*63
2) 98*47
3) 392*186
4) 528*76
5) 1492*1337
6) 2603*1865
and finally, for those who are gluttons for punishment...
7) 125468*337962

You may not get the technique right away, but with a little practice you too can multiply quickly, efficiently, and like a pro. Happy hunting!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Vedic-Multiplication/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Vedic-Multiplication/
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Comments
13 comments Add Comment

igorzal says: Jul 4, 2009. 8:48 AM REPLY

Seems like a far easier method is the "SAT" approach...that they unfortunately teach only in prep for the SAT's rather than earlier, when it might do some
good.

67x23 =
67*2 = 134
*10=1340
+67*3=201
=1541

or 67*25=
67*100=6700
/2=3350
/2=1675

purduecer says: Jul 6, 2009. 8:23 AM REPLY

The method you refer to I have frequently heard referred to as "cluster problems", and it can be useful for some cases. However, I am of the opinion that
this method becomes less useful as you start applying it to higher numbers of digits (ex. 97623 * 85428). You quickly stretch the limits of your grey matter
attempting to remember all of the little sub-problems you created to reach the final result, and you waste lots of time writing down all the little intermediate
steps you had to take to get to the answer. For this reason, I recommend the vedic approach or at least the standard algorithm for multiplication,
particularly if you intend to multiply something beyond 3-digits by 3-digits.

steveastrouk says: Jun 28, 2009. 9:10 AM REPLY

"Vedic" maths is very very similar to algorithms developed by a prisoner of war called Trachtenberg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jakow_Trachtenberg

Steve

purduecer says: Jun 28, 2009. 5:44 PM REPLY

I know of the Trachtenberg system, but have unfortunately not had time to read up on it. I'll go ahead and take your word on it for the time being.

phelippe says: Jun 15, 2009. 7:37 PM REPLY

Very nice instructable, it seems to be very useful. But i had problems when i multiply numbers with many "nines" or "eights" like 998 x 788. In that case i first
do 8 x 8, put down 4 and carry 6, ok. But when I do (8 x 9) + (8 x 8), i get 136... how do i put this value in this algorithm?!?? I've tried to put down 6, carry 13,
to put down 36 and carry 1, to put down 6, carry 3 then "carry again" 1 and nothing worked... How can i solve that kind of multiplications?!?? Thanx!!

purduecer says: Jun 15, 2009. 9:26 PM REPLY

in that case you should be able to put down a 6 and carry a 13 or alternatively put down a six, and carry a 3 one place to the left and then carry a 1 an
additional place to the left. You cannot put down a 36 and carry a 1, however, as that is like putting down a 6 and carrying a 4, which is mathematically
incorrect. Try it again and let me know what you get, and whether or not that is agreed upon by your calculator. (Depending on the calculator, there's also
the possibility that the calculator is making the mistake, not you)

phelippe says: Jun 18, 2009. 5:59 PM REPLY

Hello!
I tried what you said and i got it! Thank you very much again . I've already showed this multiplication method to my friends and they all thought it
amazing xD. Very good Instructable! Good luck to you!

purduecer says: Jun 18, 2009. 10:49 PM REPLY

Haha, thank you very much. I will try to post more mental math methods as I learn about them. If non-calculator based math is your thing, you
might like some of my other instructables, so feel free to check them out if you haven't already.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Vedic-Multiplication/
 naught101 says: Mar 3, 2009. 5:43 PM REPLY
Hey, something I just figured out: Vedic Multiplication with scientific notation:

For example, what happens if you want to calculate e=mc2 to four significant places? You need to calculate the square of the speed of light as part of that.
But the speed of light is 299,792,458 m/s. 9 digit vedic multiplication would definitely be be intersting, but probably not fun. But if you just want an
approximation, you could simply use scientific notation. First a simpler example:
392 3.92x10^2 123x 1.23x10^2 35916 123 48216 4.8216x10^4

So basically, you just add the powers of ten together (same as multiplying in normal algebra: x3 * x2=x5 ) - or you just count the number of places between
the first digit and the decimal place (4 in this case)

So for the speed of light (approximately), we have:

(2.998x108)2

2.998 x 10^8 2.998 x 10^8 x 4674544 1121 < second row carried tens 319246 8.988004 x 10^16

Feel free to use this in the instructable :) speed of light squared probably isn't the best example, but it works

purduecer says: Mar 3, 2009. 6:41 PM REPLY

haha, thanks man, I really appreciate it!

naught101 says: Feb 20, 2009. 5:12 PM REPLY

great tut, very useful.

It would probably be a good idea to have a whole step on multiplying numbers with different lengths, ie:
34213x 23

I worked it out myself, but then I noticed you'd done it a different way (by adding 0s to the start of the lower number).

For anyone else wondering, it can also be done without the zeros, basically by exactly the same method as two 5 digit numbers, but by shifting the lower
numbers until you hit the end. The equation is

= (ax + b) (cx4 + dx3 + ex2 + fx + g)

= acx5 + bcx4 + adx4 + bdx3 + aex3 + bex2 + afx2 + bfx + agx + bg
=(ac)x5 + (bc + ad)x4 + (bd + ae)x3 + (be + af)x2 + (bf + ag)x + (bg)

dunno how useful that is :)

sfacs says: Jan 28, 2009. 2:34 AM REPLY

Nice instructable! Can you please give me the name of the book you got for christmas? Thanks !

purduecer says: Jan 28, 2009. 7:32 PM REPLY

http://www.vedicmaths.org/Bookstores/BookstoreWorld/05%20Vedic%20Maths/VM%20details.asp

hope that helps :-)

http://www.instructables.com/id/Vedic-Multiplication/