Free demo · Vedic Maths · Lesson 4 · Sutra 2 · Nikhilam

Multiply numbers near 100 in your head

Sutra 2, Nikhilam Navatashcaramam Dashatah (“all from 9 and the last from 10”), multiplies numbers close to a base like 10, 100 or 1000.

98−2 97−3 9506

98 × 97 = 9506

  1. 1How far below 100? 98 is −2, 97 is −3
  2. 2Cross-subtract: 98 − 3 = 95 (or 97 − 2 = 95)
  3. 3Multiply the differences: 2 × 3 = 6, written 06 (two digits for base 100)
  4. ✓Join the parts: 9506

Your turn: 96 × 99 = ?

9504: 96 − 1 = 95 | 4 × 1 = 04

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  5. Enrol

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About this lesson

The Nikhilam sutra, Nikhilam Navatashcaramam Dashatah (“all from 9 and the last from 10”), multiplies numbers that are close to a base such as 10, 100 or 1000. Write how far each number is below the base, cross-subtract to get the left part, and multiply the two differences to get the right part. For 98 × 97: 98 − 3 = 95 and 2 × 3 = 06, so the answer is 9506.

Key points

  • Sutra 2: Nikhilam Navatashcaramam Dashatah
  • Differences from the base, cross-subtraction
  • Why base 100 needs a two-digit right part