If the two numbers each have N digits, that's N 2 (or N x N) multiplications altogether. In the example above, N is 3, and we had to do 3 2 = 9 multiplications.

To multiply two numbers by hand take a few steps but it’s something we’re taught in school. When dealing with big numbers, really big numbers, we need to a quicker way to do things.

Mathematicians have reportedly discovered a new way of multiplying two numbers together. The new technique is for really large numbers, and if it passes a peer-review, could be the fastest ...

Forget your times tables – mathematicians have found a new, faster way to multiply two numbers together. The method, which works only for whole numbers, is a landmark result in computer science.

You want to add 3 oranges and 2 pears together. When you write this as a number sentence, you put the addition symbol (+) between the two numbers.

In long multiplication, we have to multiply every digit of the first number by every digit of the second number. If the two numbers each have N digits, that’s N 2 (or N x N) multiplications altogether ...

If the two numbers each have N digits, that's N ² (or N x N) multiplications altogether. In the example above, N is 3, and we had to do 3 ² = 9 multiplications.