In my previous post I had promised to start writing lessons on vedic mathematics and here is the first lesson.

Vedic mathematics contains sutras (formulas) which are simple and straightforward, even though they are based on algebra, these sutras work like magic and unlike modern algebraic formula, they are easy to remember.

More importantly, vedic mathematics means almost zero paper work, and you can come out with answers to a mathematical problem, as if you are spelling out the alphabets of an English word!

Unlike how conventional books on vedic mathematics go, I am starting out with one of the multiplication methods in the first lesson today. Remember vedic mathematics is flexible, and for each problem there are multiple ways to solve it and you can also come out with your own method to solve it! So this is just one of the methods to do multiplication.

Multiplication Formula

The formula is not something complicated to remember like (a+b) ³ =a ³ +b ³ +3ab(a+b)

Its as simple as Urdhva Tiryagbhyam in Sanskrit, which in English simply means vertically and crosswise

Let us see how.

Conventional Method

In our schools the multiplication method taught is very complicated and paper work increases as the number of digits increase in the numbers being multiplied. See below for some examples:

Example 1 of Conventional Method

75

X 32
_______
150
225
_______
2400
_______

Example 2 of Conventional Method

745
x 925
________
3725
1490
6705
________
689125
________

As you can see above, as the number of digits increases, the method gets more and more complicated, involves more paper work, is more elaborate, takes more time to solve, is more prone to human errors while adding, placing digits one below other etc.

Vedic Method

Now let us see how simple it is to do the same arithmetic using the vedic mathematics sutra Urdhva Tiryagbhyam mentioned above i.e vertically and crosswise

The same problems when solved using vedic method become as simple as

75

X 32
_______
2400
_______

and

745
x 925
________
689125
________

The formula is pretty simple, and before explaining it in words, let me show it pictorially to you, not just because a picture is equivalent to some hundred words or so, but because it also takes a lot of effort to type it out

Two digit multiplication

For a two digit multiplication the formula is as follows with simple three mental steps!

Suppose BC X EF is the problem, then

Let me explain it for 7532

Step 1 : 52=10, write down 0 and carry 1

Step 2 : 72 + 53 = 14+15=29, add to it previous carry over value 1, so we have 30, now write down 0 and carry 3

Step 3 : 73=21, add previous carry over value of 3 to get 24, write it down.

So we have 2400 as the answer.

Three digit multiplication

The method for 3 digits is an extension of the 2 digit method as follows

Let me explain this method for 745 x 925

Step 1 : 55=25, write down 5 and carry over 2

Step 2 : 45 + 52 =20+10=30, add previous carry over 2, so we have 32, write down 2 and carry over 3

Step 3 : 75 + 42 + 59 = 35+8+45 = 88, add previous carry over 3 to get 91, now write down 1 and carry over 9

Step 4: 72 + 49 = 14+36 = 50, add previous carry over 9 to get 59, write down 9 and carry over 5

Step 5: 79= 63, add previous carry over 5 to get 68, write down 68

So we have 689125 as the answer

Conclusion

No matter how many digits are involved, you can do all the calculations directly in your mind, by doing carry overs and one digit multiplication and keep simply writing down the answer!!

If children are taught this method right from their childhood to do multiplication, they will get used to doing super fast multiplication without having to use pen and paper!

I suggest that you try out the above method to do some really large multiplications, and you will be amazed at your own speed!

Just look at the problem and start writing the answers! Which is what vedic mathematics is all about. It is mathematics simplified!

Knowledge is Power. You may also like:

• Vedic Mathematics – Preface
• Astronomical Dating of the Vedic Age
• Vedic Science and Modern Science
• C# and Garbage Collection

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