Egyptian Multiplication Name:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Date:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

© Copyright 1999, Jim Loy. http://www.jimloy.com/egypt/mult.htm

Ancient Egyptians sometimes multiplied in the following way (using a kind of base-2
arithmetic). Apparently, they also used other methods. We will use 7x13 as an example.
We make two columns. We start with 1 and 7 (one of the numbers we want to multiply).
Then we double the number in each column, over and over until we get to a number just
below the other number (13 in this case) in the left-hand column:

1 7
2 14
4 28
8 56
--------
We have powers of two in the left column, and we have 7 times the powers of two in the
right column. We can make 13 out of the left column, by 8+4+1. That is where the base 2
arithmetic comes in. We mark those numbers (8, 4, 1). And we add up the numbers in the
second column, skipping the ones that are not next to a marked power of two:

/1 7
2 14
/4 28
/8 56
---------
91
That is the right answer. There is a very similar method called Russian or Ethiopian
Multiplication. [this next part in italics is optional] Apparently, powers of ten were
sometimes used as well:

/10 70
/1 7
/2 14
---------
91
This may be viewed as a short cut. Instead of 13 being 8+4+1, it becomes 10+2+1.

MR. JOE’S SUPER FUN EXAMPLES

Say I want to multiply 17x79 You finish this one for 14x325
/1 79 1 325
2 158 2 650
4 316 4 1300
8 632 8 2600
/16 1264 ---------
---------
79+1264=1343
Egyptian Multiplication Name:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Date:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

(I used 1+16=17)
EGYPTIAN MULTIPLICATION PRACTICE EXERCISES!

Use these to practice the algorithm (procedure) discussed on the other

side. Don’t just type these into a calculator. Duh. 

1. 16x74 2. 31x151

3. 60x45 4. 32x323

5. 235x892 6. 972x2001

THINKING QUESTIONS

1. How come you can always find a selection of powers of 2 that

add up to your left hand side number?

2. Why does this algorithm work?

3. What does this have to do with base 2 number systems?