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48x100 = 4800 4800 -(3*50) = 4800-150 = 4650 4650 + 3(50-48) = 4650 +3(2) = 4650 +6 = 4656
48 X 97 = (50-2) x (100-3)
Use FOIL:
(50 X 100) - (50 x 3) - (100 x 2) + (-2 x -3)
5000 - 150 - 200 + 6
4656
Presto!
There are a lot of quick ways to do it. Try to find what way is most comfortable for you. I wouldn't start with 50 x 100 because you're rounding two of the numbers (which makes things a lot more confusing, the only time you should do this is when squaring numbers...)
My advice would be round 1 of the numbers (either works, if you are less comfortable multiplying by 50 do it by 100). 48 * 100 = 4800. Then I'd do 348 which shouldn't be too difficult (break it up by 350 - 6 if you need to). Then simple subtraction 4800 - 144 will get you to where you need to be.
I tell you, the two ways above make it appear way more complicated than it needs to be. It should be a string of very simple steps not one complex step that gets you the answer.
The way i said is essentially 48100 -350 +6, but broke it down for simplicity.
why not just 4800-(48*3)?
Open excel. Pick a random, empty cell. Type in "=(48*97)" (remove the quotation marks when you type in). The answer is whatever comes in the cell.
That isn't really solving it in your head though..
7*8 = 56 90 * 10 = 900 900 * 4 = 3600 3600 + 56 = 3656
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