Back to the interactive abacus

Abacus basics · Lesson 5

Multiplication basics on a soroban

Multiplication combines equal groups. Start with repeated addition, then use place value and partial products to solve larger questions.

Watch the lesson

Read the narration

Break twelve times three into place values. Two times three makes six ones. One ten times three makes three tens. Put the partial products together to read thirty-six.

1. Build equal groups

Think of 4 × 3 as four groups of 3. Start from zero and add 3 four times. Your running totals are 3, 6, 9, and 12.

Add 3 · move 13
Add 3 · move 26
Add 3 · move 39
Add 3 · move 412

2. Place the product correctly

Each answer digit belongs on its own rod. For 4 × 3 = 12, set 1 on the tens rod and 2 on the ones rod. Keep the rightmost working rod consistent throughout the problem.

one ten: 1
two ones: 2

3. Use partial products

Break a larger number into place values. For 12 × 3, first calculate 2 × 3 = 6 on the ones rod. Then calculate 1 ten × 3 = 3 tens. Read the completed answer as 36.

01

2 × 3 = 6 ones

02

10 × 3 = 30

03

30 + 6 = 36

Work from the ones place toward the left, and clear only the rods you are using for the product.