22 - Multiplication on your finger Tips

VEDIC MATHEMATICS NEWSLETTER

ISSUE No. 22

Vedic Mathematics is becoming increasingly popular as more and more people are introduced to the beautifully unified and easy Vedic methods.
The purpose of this Newsletter is to provide information about developments in education and research and books, articles, courses, talks etc., and also to bring together those working with Vedic Mathematics.
If you are working with Vedic Mathematics - teaching it or doing research - please contact us and let us include you and some description of your work in the Newsletter. Perhaps you would like to submit an article for inclusion in a later issue or tell us about a course or talk you will be giving or have given.
If you are learning Vedic Maths, let us know how you are getting on and what you think of this system.

*****************************

This issues article is by Mrs Rajeshwari Sharma who has developed a neat way to multiply using the fingers. Her article contained diagrams of a pair of hands with one finger turned down. These figures are not shown here although they are referred to in the text. It should be easy to understand the method without the figures though, and they can be drawn out if you wish. Mrs Sharma is a mathematics graduate and teacher. If you like to contact her about this article her email address is:

*****************************

MULTIPLICATION ON YOUR FINGER TIPS

I am presently conducting Workshops in Vedic Mathematics for school children. The following article on "Multiplication on Finger Tips" will appear in my compilation on Vedic Mathematics, which I hope to publish soon. During my Lectures, I found many children and parents fascinated by the method of doing multiplication of 9, 19, 29, 39, etc. on hand. I believe it will likewise generate interest in others also.

Multiplication Tables of 9, 19, 29, 39, etc. on hand. We have the answers at the tip of our fingers, literally. Isn't it wonderful. Even a child can give the answer for 6 x 79 within a few seconds by this method.

We have 10 fingers in our hands. Keep the palms with fingers spread turned towards your face.
Fig.1 shows the fingers numbered from 1 to 10, so the left thumb is 1 and the right thumb is 10.
The numbers shown against the fingers in Fig.1 are the values attached to those fingers and represent the multiplier.

For example in 9x3; 9 is the multiplicand and 3 is the multiplier.
Similarly in 19 x 6, 19 is the multiplicand and 6 is the multiplier.
Rules to remember:
   1.. The folded finger represents the multiplier.
   2.. Consider any finger to the left of the folded finger as representing the digit in the 10s place and those to the right represent the digit in units place.

(Eg.1) Consider the multiplication table for 9.
   1.. Fold the thumb of left hand (to represent 1 in 9 x 1). Since all the remaining 9 fingers are to the right of the folded finger, we have 9 units.
   Therefore 9 x 1 = 9. (See Fig. 2)

  2.. Fold the index finger of the left hand (representing 2 in 9 x 2). Now we have the thumb to the left of folded finger and 8 units to the right. The thumb represents 1 Ten.
   Therefore 9 x 2 = 18. (See Fig. 3)

  3.. Fold the small finger of right hand (representing 6 in 9 x 6). Now we have five fingers to the left and 4 fingers to the right of folded finger. The five fingers to the left represent 5 tens. Hence 50. The four fingers to the right are 4 units.
   Therefore 9 x 6 = 54. (See Fig. 4)

******************
(Eg.2) Multiplication Table of 19. In this case we proceed as explained above, but to every tens digit, we add the digit represented by the folded finger.
Thus 19 x 1 = 1/9 = 19

The folded finger represents 1. There is no tens to the left of the thumb of left hand therefore we get 1 in 10s place.

Therefore 19 x 1 = 1/9 = 19. (See Fig. 5)

TENS      UNITS
1 x 1             9
Therefore 19 x 1 = 19
******************

Consider 19 x 2. We fold the index finger of left hand representing the multiplier 2. There is 1 ten represented by the thumb to the left of the folded finger. Hence, adding the 2 (multiplier) to 1, we get 3 in tens place.
There are 8 units to the right.
Therefore 19 x 2 = (2+1)/8 = 38 (See Fig. 6)

TENS       UNITS
      1           8
+ 2 x 1
      =3
Therefore 19 x 2 = 38
*****************

19 x 6: The folded finger is multiplier 6. This value 6 is added to the 5 tens to the left of folded finger to get 11 tens. The four fingers on the right are the four units. Fig. 7

TENS       UNITS
    5               4
    + 6
    =11
Therefore 19 x 6 = 114
******************

(Eg.3) Multiplication Table for 29:

The method is exactly as explained above, only we add twice the digit represented by the folded finger, (i.e. the multiplier) to the number of fingers to its left.

29. TABLE
The value of folded finger is doubled. 29 x 1: Here the multiplier is doubled and added to the tens on the left. Thus in 29 x 1, the folded finger represents multiplier 1. Multiply this by 2. We get 2 tens. The 9 fingers to the right represent 9 units. (See Fig. 8)
29 x 1
TENS       UNITS
  1 x 2               9
    = 2
Therefore 29 x 1 = 29
******************

29 x 2: The multiplier 2 is doubled and added to the 1 ten represented by the thumb. We thus get (4+1) tens. The 8 fingers on the right gives 8 units. (See Fig. 9)
29 x 2
TENS       UNITS
     1              8
+ 2 x 2
      =5
Therefore 29 x 2 = 58
*****************

29 x 7: The multiplier 7 is doubled and added to the 6 tens represented by the fingers to the left of folded finger. We thus have 20 tens. There are 3 units to the right. (See Fig.10)
TENS       UNITS
      6             3
+ 7 x 2
      =20
Therefore 29 x 7 = 203
******************

In the case of multiplication table for 39, we multiply the digit represented by folded finger (i.e. the multiplier) by 3 and add it to the tens represented by fingers to the left of folded fingers.

39 x 4 = (4 x 3) + 3/6 = 156 (There are 3 tens to the left of folded finger and 6 units to the right)

Similarly 49 x 6 = (6 x 4) + 5/4 = 294 (There are 5 tens to the left of folded finger and 4 units to the right)

99 x 7 = (7 x 9) + 6/3 = 693 (There are 6 tens to the left of folded finger and 3 units to the right)

119 x 8 = (8 x 11) + 7/2 = 952 (There are 7 tens to the left of folded finger and 2 units to the right)

We can extend the above logic for multiplication tables of 8, 18, 28, etc. also on hand.

****************************

NEWS

****************************

COSMIC CALCULATOR COURSE NOW AVAILABLE

This course of three books, plus Teachers Guide and Answer Book (formerly entitled The Cosmic Computer) is now printed and available. The publishers are Motilal Banarsidass. The price is 795 rupees for the set. Books can also be purchased separately. Here are the publishers details should you wish to contact them.
41, U.A. Bungalow Road, Jawahar Nagar, Delhi-110007, India.
Tel: (011) 3974826, 3918335, 3911985, 3932747, (011) 5795180, 5793423, 5797356.
Fax:(011) 3930689, 5797221.
Email:
Website: www.mlbd.com
We will let you have more details when we can.

NEW WEB SITE

There is a new web site on Vedic Mathematics: http://www.geocities.com/vedicmathematics. This features the work of Dr S. K. Kapoor who believes that the logical problems that have beset modern mathematicians (like functions that are continuous everywhere but differentiable nowhere) are due to certain basic axioms used in modern mathematics. This problem is solved with Vedic Mathematics. Here is an extract from the web site: "Dr. Kapoor is attempting to reconstruct the discipline of geometry as a discipline based on Vedic concepts. He has designated this discipline as Vedic Geometry. His results have added a new dimension to the dialogue initiated with the interpretation of the Ganita Sutras and their potentialities brought to focus by Swami Bharti Krisna Tirthaji Maharaj."

SIMPLE SUMS PROJECT

Software is being developed to teach mathematics, incorporating Vedic mathematics, modern computation and traditional Irish cultural knowledge. A demonstration of this software should be available on the internet within eight weeks. If anyone would like further information or could help to create a Simple Sums web site they may contact Dr. Brian McEnery at .
Also it is timely in it's development as, for the first time calculators will be used throughout secondary schools in Eireland. This is unfortunate unless a really new innovation takes place. What makes this anicalc different to a conventional calculator is that the child (or adult) is shown the process of the calculation while it is being done, and can be encouraged to perform parts of it, mentally. As well there are the special mental mathematical techniques of Vedic Mathematics, which introduce a degree of liveliness and interest which is absent from conventional methods. We will keep you informed.

WORKSHOPS IN JANUARY

Vedic mathematics continues to be of great interest in India. Workshops on 28th - 30th January given by Mrs Rajeshwari Sharma in Mumbai were a big success. She writes: "I explained the different methods of multiplications and squarings and cubings knowing well that they will be of great use to the children of 9th and 8th standard. I also showed them the verification by digital root method. That was very well appreciated by both the students and the teachers. I also showed them multiplication tables of 9,19,29,39 etc., on fingers and they were all very fascinated. Except the 9 times table (which is known to many) I had worked out the logic for the other tables myself. I also enjoyed giving the lecture since the children took so much interest and took active part in the same by coming to the board and working out the problems themselves. The principal came on the second day and congratulated me told me that the teachers and the children liked my approach to the subject."

One of the young participants at this event wrote afterwards: "Your lecture on Vedic Maths was like an expensive medicine given to a wounded soldier on a battlefield fighting for his country. As we are fighting to score in maths for the board exam as one of the weakest subjects. It is surely a good and a magic like subject for a weak student. Thank you for the wonderful lecture."

NEW COURSE PLANNED IN LONDON

Following the successful course at Imperial College another one is planned for next term. We will keep you informed about the details.

MULTIPLICATION SHORT CUT - correction

This item from Newsletter 21 should read:
"multiply 43 x 44 - what I do is this
3 x 4 is 12 , put down 2 and carry 1
add the nos. which are not common and multiply by the common no - in this case
(4 + 3) x 4 = 28 , 28 + 1 = 29 , put down 9 , carry 2
4 x 4 is 16 + 2 =18
therefore the answer is 1892."

****************************

WORKSHOPS IN INDIA

If you want to know about Vedic Mathematics Workshops or research in India send an email to Mr R. P. Jain at

****************************

Your comments about this Newsletter are invited.
If you would like to send us details about your work or submit an article for inclusion please let us know on

Articles in previous issues of this Newsletter can be copied from the web site - www.vedicmaths.org:
Issue 1: An Introduction
Issue 2: "So What's so Special about Vedic Mathematics?"
Issue 3: Sri Bharati Krsna Tirthaji: More than a Mathematical Genius
Issue 4: The Vedic Numerical Code
Issue 5: "Mathematics of the Millennium"- Seminar in Singapore
Issue 6: The Sutras of Vedic Mathematics
Issue 7: The Vedic Square
Issue 8: The Nine Point Circle
Issue 9: The Vedic Triangle
Issue 10: Proof of Goldbach's Conjecture
Issue 11: Is Knowledge Essentially Simple?
Issue 12: Left to Right or Right to Left?
Issue 13: The Vinculum and other Devices
Issue 14: 1,2,3,4: Pythagoras and the Cosmology of Number
Issue 15: A Descriptive Preparatory Note on the Astounding Wonders of Ancient Indian Vedic
Issue 16: Vedic Matrix Issue
Issue 17: Vedic Sources of Vedic Mathematics Mathematics
Issue 18: 9 by 9 Division Table
Issue 19: "Maths Mantra"
Issue 20: Numeracy
Issue 21: Only a Matter of 16 Sutras

To subscribe or unsubscribe to this Newsletter simply send an email to that effect to
Please pass a copy of this Newsletter on (unedited) to anyone you think may be interested.
Editor: Kenneth Williams

Visit the Vedic Mathematics web site at
http://www.vedicmaths.org

Email

8th March 2002

GTranslate

English Chinese (Traditional) Dutch Finnish French German Hindi Korean Russian Ukrainian