The lattice method is a visual technique for multiplying numbers, particularly useful for multi-digit multiplication. It breaks down the multiplication into smaller, manageable steps.
Here's how it works:
- Draw the Lattice: Create a grid of boxes. The number of columns equals the number of digits in the first number, and the number of rows equals the number of digits in the second number. Draw diagonal lines from the top right to the bottom left within each box.
- Multiply Digits: Multiply each digit of the first number by each digit of the second number. Write the tens digit of the product in the upper triangle of the box and the units digit in the lower triangle. If a product is a single digit, write 0 in the upper triangle.
- Sum Diagonals: Starting from the bottom right diagonal, add the numbers along each diagonal. Write the sum below the diagonal. If a sum is 10 or more, write the units digit and carry over the tens digit to the next diagonal to the left.
- Read the Answer: Read the digits from the top left, following the diagonals down to the bottom right, to get the final product.
It's a way to organize the partial products and carries systematically.
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