Russian multiplication

Russian farmers are said to have used this method to multiply numbers between 6 and 10. The fingers are numbered from 6 to 10. Any couple can then be multiplied. 

Emily shows off her nice nails:)

To multiply 7 & 8 you put the fingers representing the numbers against each other. The fingers that touch and those below represent tens. In this case 50. The other fingers are multiplied and then added to the numbers we got on the lower fingers. Three times two is six and added to the tens you get 6 + 50 = 56 

Lucas and Rebecca examines whether the method works. It does! And it was fun!