In the previous tutorial on multiplication of any 2-digit number, we learnt how to multiply any 2-digit numbers using criss-cross method of multiplication.
In this tutorial, we will understand a very important mathematical shortcut of multiplying any two 3 digit numbers using the criss-cross multiplication technique.
For students preparing for competitive examination, You might come across, many multiplications in the competitive examinations where you might be asked to multiply two 3-digit number.
If you know criss-cross method, you can save a lot of time by eliminating the choices at the end of each step of criss-cross multiplication.
The number of steps in a 3 x 3 multiplication is 5. Let’s understand the steps with an example.
Example : Suppose you want to multiply 132 x 214.
Step 1 : Write the numbers one below the other. Multiply the digits in the unit place as in 2×2 multiplication, that is 2×4=2. This will be the unit digit of the answer as well.
Step 2 : Now, cross multiply the digits in the 10’s and unit’s place to get the digit in the 10’s place of the answer.
Step 3 : Now, notice the criss-cross multiplication. Here, we multiply the terms (1×4), (2×2) and (3×1) and then add these terms to get 11.
Step 4 : Now, repeat Step 2 with the digits in the 100’s and the 10’s place.
Step 5 : This is the last step in the multiplication. Now, repeat Step 1 with the digits in 100’s place.
The complete steps involved in the calculation is illustrated in the figure :
Notice the carry-forward in each step.
On the similar lines, can you multiply,
- 423 x 234
- 124 x 465
- 567 x 890
- 646 x 772
Easy 
?
I hope this tutorial is useful. If you have any doubts concerning this tutorial, please leave a comment, I would be glad to help.
SapnaEdu is a portal to learn some really cool Mathematical Shortcuts. I hope, it will help students preparing for various competitive examinations. Some of these shortcuts are explained in Vedic Mathematics and rest of them are from my own experience of teaching students. Get to know about SapnaEdu 
There are some misspell….step III and V
Thanks so much Santanu for pointing it out. I have corrected it 🙂
Kiran
Great tutorial…very helpfull : )
There is a miscalculation in step III, the result should be 11 instead of 14
Thank you so much for pointing it out. I am extremely sorry for the inadvertent error though.
I am glad you liked it.
Thanks
Kiran
sir pls solve that multiply numbers 68*73
ur steps are:
1st step:
8*3=27
2nd Step:
(6*3)+(7*8)
18+56=74
3rd Step:
6*7= 42
therefore, 42/74/27
and written off 42/4/7
7 2
then 4987 this anwer is wrong sir .
pls give me detailed soultion ur reply im waited
Hello Ramya,
Here are the steps :
68*73 = 6*7 / (6*3 + 8*7) / 8*3
= 42/74/24
=4964
the vth step should be 2 and not 8.
anyway thanks for such an eloquent explanation.
This is very useful technique , I wished it was taught to me in school