"How Chinese Multiply" (Video)

No, it's not a thread about China's population =P

Today I found this video called How Chinese Multiply, and I have to say it's quite a fun method to use...never seen it before. Quite handy if you aren't great at math and don't always have your phone with you, although I'd think it would be quite impractical for big multiplications.

Have any of you guys used this method?

This is a nice little algorithm indeed. Haven't seen it but it seems quite like something Gauss would do.

The only downfall is that your pens will dry much sooner this way.

@alim298: Carry a "math pencil" with you at all times XD

Oh wow thats pretty cool. I was actually expecting something completely different when I read the title though. xD

ROFL XD

I came here to watch Chinese porn, as usual Mr korvus dissapoints again HeHe

WTF, Wut the hell r they doing to a simple multiply ????? I Can't even ...

This thread has 44 views and 2 people replied so far. I think you weren't the only one expecting Asian porn =P

Honestly that just seems overly complicated by my standards. Much prefer my method of breaking the problem down into smaller multiplications and then just adding them together as I can do that in my head quite well.

@Acillatem1993: It's my master plan to teach math to the horny masses XD

@LostProphetFLCL: Care to give an example? =)

@magicalclick: I didn't claim it was, that's just the name of the video (also, not my video). Whether they use it or not, I found it an interesting method and thought to share it with you guys =)

@magicalclick: With the difference that it can be used by a child who only knows addition =)

That made me Laugh big time indzman. Korvus got you good LOL.

That was a great video Korvus really enjoy that. This is the first time I ever seen that math method but back in 1996, [11 yrs old] I was bad at math but I was thought to use the old fashion way doing math before Cell Phones were a thing.

Sorry but this method will always be my best friend.

Also this is what LostProphetFLCL was talking about. [I think]

@holonic- said:

That was a great video Korvus really enjoy that. This is the first time I ever seen that math method but back in 1996, [11 yrs old] I was bad at math but I was thought to use the old fashion way doing math before Cell Phones were a thing.

Sorry but this method will always be my best friend.

thats not multiplying bruh but i guess you mean multiplying version of this method?

@humanistpotato said:

@holonic- said:

That was a great video Korvus really enjoy that. This is the first time I ever seen that math method but back in 1996, [11 yrs old] I was bad at math but I was thought to use the old fashion way doing math before Cell Phones were a thing.

Sorry but this method will always be my best friend.

thats not multiplying bruh but i guess you mean multiplying version of this method?

that's what I meant but I like this method better in all maths. I couldn't find the multiplying but I assume everyone knew what I was talking about.

That's awesome, I feel like learning it now.

Alright so for example let me just do that same first problem done in the video.

21X13

I break it down into parts:

20X10=200

20X3=60

1X13=13

Add them together and you get 273.

Seems more complicated writing it down. It is super easy to do in your head if you are good at more basic multiplication.

The video is pretty simple to follow, but it's probably not a handy method to use if you want to do 18593 x 95839 XD

@LostProphetFLCL: That's also a pretty nice method =D I see what you meant by being easier to do in your head. Thank you for sharing ^_^

Or, you can just use a calculator :P

that's a pretty awesome way to do multiplications. If you're not good at maths, this could help you in tests/exams where calculators are forbidden. Good video.

This is how I do it:

I basically split it up into 0 * 130, 10 * 130 and 200 * 130.

Funny how you never really forget how to do it, this was my first time in years I think ;) In retrospect, I think it might get messy if the result is > 10s of millions. You're never required to calculate high numbers though.

Not bad~

@deeliman: Smartass XD

@_Judas_: Taught this method to a 6 year old who started school last month and can only do addition; he got the multiplication right. Awesome, right?

@MlauTheDaft: That's a very interesting method as well, thanks for sharing =)

That is interesting. I sometimes use the technique I learned from Khan Academy.

Example:

11x25

First, multiply 5x11. That equals 55. Next, multiplying 11 times 20 results in 220. Add the answers and you get 275.

This problem is answered faster by knowing multiplication tables, but it is convenient with other problems.

Example:

325x123

First, multiply 3x325. That equals 975. Secondly, 20 times 325 equals 6500. 100 times 325 equals 32500. Adding those answers together results in 39975. To confirm, simply multiply 325 by 123 with a calculator.

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The method MlauTheDaft uses is what I was taught in school.

Your technique is good for head calculations and you're correct :) It's indeed what they teach (possibly taught) in our schools too.

That's interesting, I didn't learn it. Around what year was it that you guys learned this in school? (Might be a more recent thing or maybe it was just my elementary school that sucked =P)

Sorry but I don't really remember. Think I was 10-14.... That means 1995'ish I guess.

@MlauTheDaft: Ok, so you didn't learn that as soon as you learned multiplication.

3rd grade

Third grade sounds about right.