Question

Evaluate the following products without multiplying directly:
$104 \times 96$

Answer 1

Hint: Start by expressing the numbers in the nearest rounded off number and then apply a suitable formula to solve the problem.
$104 \times 96 = \left( {100 + 4} \right)\left( {100 - 4} \right)$
Now applying the formula$\left( {a + b} \right)\left( {a - b} \right) = \left( {{a^2} - {b^2}} \right)$,
Therefore,
$104 \times 96 = \left( {{{100}^2} - {4^2}} \right)$
$104 \times 96 = 10000 - 16$
Answer = $104 \times 96 = 9984$
Note: In these types of questions, our aim should be to first get the number to the nearest rounded off number which in this case was 100, then using the formula of , we solved the problem in less than 3 steps.