How to Do the Egyptian Multiplication Method (A Fun Math Lesson!)

Dating back to Ancient Egypt, this method does not require memorization of all multiplication tables.
It relies only on the ability to add and multiply by 2. This could be a fun math lesson to explore at the end of the year to demonstrate an alternative method to multiplication. This method is not meant to be demonstrated as a primary method of multiplying, but rather to show how the use of numbers has changed over time and culture. This would be great if Ancient Egypt is a topic that you have been exploring with your class.

Check out the tutorial below to see how it works.

Thank you to Maisonet Math for sharing this video tutorial!

How Does the Egyptian Multiplication Method Work? (Step-by-Step)

The video is a great overview, but here are the steps written out so you can try it yourself! It’s all about halving, doubling, and adding.

Let’s try to solve 13 x 24.

Step 1: Create Two Columns

Create two columns. Put the first number (13) at the top of the left column, and the second number (24) at the top of the right.

Step 2: Halve and Double

You are going to HALVE the left column (and ignore any remainders).
You are going to DOUBLE the right column.
Keep going down until your “halving” column reaches 1.

It will look like this:

Halve (Left)	Double (Right)
13	24
6	48
3	96
1P	192

Step 3: Find the “Odd” Numbers

Look at your “Halving” (left) column. You are going to cross out any rows that have an EVEN number on the left.

13 is ODD – Keep it.
6 is EVEN – Cross it out.
3 is ODD – Keep it.
1 is ODD – Keep it.

Halve (Left)	Double (Right)
13 (Odd)	24 (Keep)
6 (Even)	~~48~~ (Cross out)
3 (Odd)	96 (Keep)
1 (Odd)	192 (Keep)

Step 4: Add the “Magic” Numbers

Now, just add up the “Double” (right) numbers that you kept.

24 + 96 + 192 = 312

…which is the correct answer for 13 x 24! How cool is that?

P.S. Love “Out-of-the-Box” Math Puzzles?

The Egyptian Multiplication Method is the perfect example of how “math” can just be a big, fun puzzle.

It’s the exact same idea behind my Math Mysteries.

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