Why do students like lattice multiplication? First, it is POWERFUL… ask any third grader who can successfully multiply 216 x 32. Secondly, all you have to do it to multiply 2 one digit numbers, and you don’t have to worry about adding at the same time. Next, the diagonals line up all the place values, so you don’t add those mysterious “0” in second row of the calculations. Then you just add each diagonal, and carry ten’s place sums to the next diagonal. Lastly, it is so beautiful to see your correct answer of 6,912!
So for those children who have difficulty lining up their columns and multiplying/trading/adding at the same time, it is the perfect algorithm. My students in 3rd Grade called it the “Fun Way!” and that says it all.
Deborah Devine
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