Japanese Multiplication

16th September 2013; Japanese Multiplication

I happen to come across this very interesting picture the other day on the Internet. The title of the picture was; How Japanese children learn multiplication.

I did a little research on how this method is used and was really fascinated by this method.  This is how its works.

Step 1:

Taking the first number, draw a group of lines corresponding to each number parallel to each other leaving a gap in the middle. (In the example above, the first number being thirteen, the red line representing the one in the number thirteen, and the three dark blue lines parallel to the red line acting as the three in the number thirteen)

Step 2:

Taking the second number, repeat the same process but do it so that the lines crosses the other group of lines. (In that same example, the green line represents the one in the number twelve and the two black lines representing the two in the number twelve. But take note that the placement of the second set of lines must be intersecting with the first group of lines)

Step 3:

Lastly, count up the intersections in each group in a vertical manner to get the answer.

These simply blew my mind in terms of how the method can be so simple and yet still manages to produce the correct answer. Comparing it with the methods that we were taught during our primary school days. I think this method might prove to be an easier way for kids to understand multiplication quicker and be done more efficiently.

Earned this today: Such a cool way to be doing multiplication! Definitely going to try and use this method more often whenever I need to be multiplying.