Page:Happy-Maths-1-English.pdf/17

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What is Multiplication?



Multiplication is a quick way of adding.

Suppose you pluck 25 mangoes from one tree in an orchard, and your grandmother has asked you to get 250 mangoes to make spicy mango pickles, you do not have to keep count after plucking every mango.

Just pluck 25 mangoes from each tree. Leave them in separate baskets at the foot of the tree.

One basket contains 25 mangoes. 2 Baskets will contain 25 + 25 = 50 mangoes. You can just multiply 25 by 2 instead. 25 x 2 = 50. 3 baskets x 25 mangoes in each: 3 X 25 = 75. 10 baskets x 25 mangoes in each: 10 x 25 = 250.

When the numbers to be multiplied are small, it is easy to add repeatedly.

But when numbers are big, it is easier to multiply.

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