Lattice Multiplication vs Napier's Bones Simulation

Lattice Multiplication helps students learn and practice the lattice multiplication method step by step. The app shows each part of the lattice multiplication process visually. Students first complete the multiplication steps and then add along the diagonals. Animated numbers move into the correct places, helping students understand how the method works. Lattice multiplication is a compact visual method for multiplying larger numbers. It is algorithmically equivalent to long multiplication and is also excellent times tables practice. Students can solve randomly generated problems or enter their own multiplication problems. Wired.com: “This was one form of multiplication that I’d never done before, but the app taught me very clearly. It makes multiplying large numbers easier, and allows you to see it all visually.” Teacher endorsement: “The math apps by Esa Helttula allow students to practice and reinforce the specific computation strategies taught in class, with as much or as little scaffolding as necessary. They also provide individualized feedback to each student, with an immediacy that is not always possible through pencil and paper practice.” — Rita Zeni, Ecole Sandy Hill Elementary, Abbotsford, BC, Canada Features: - Step-by-step lattice multiplication practice - Multiplicand can have up to 5 digits - Multiplier can have up to 3 digits - Randomly generated or manually entered problems - Current operation for each step can be hidden - Operands for the current operation can be highlighted - Three visual themes: black, gray, and gold - Adjustable animation speed - Different interfaces for iPhone and iPad The Lattice Multiplication Method Lattice multiplication is algorithmically equivalent to long multiplication. A lattice (a grid) guides the calculation. All the multiplications are done first and then the additions. The method was introduced to Europe in 1202 in Fibonacci's Liber Abaci. In this groundbreaking book Fibonacci presented many algorithms for working with Arabic numerals. Ancient Indians and Chinese originally invented some of the algorithms. Fibonacci presented both the current standard long multiplication and also an originally Indian method called lattice multiplication, which is faster and more compact for working with larger numbers. Other iDevBooks Math Apps: Other iDevBooks math apps include Column Addition, Long Multiplication, Long Division, Column Subtraction, Visual Multiplication Table, Fraction Math, Partial Differences Subtraction, Partial Quotients Division, Partial Sums Addition, Decimal Rounding, and more. Feedback: New ideas to make this app better are welcome. Please visit idevbooks.com to give feedback. Privacy: This app has no ads, no in-app purchases, and does not transmit user data during operation. The app also does not contain links to other apps or to the web.

John Napier's contribution to mathematics was truly significant. Born in Scotland, Napier studied as a mathematician, physicist and astronomer. He is best known as the inventor of logarithms, but he also invented one of the first computing devices. The device, known as Napier's Bones, is manually operated and can be used to find the products and quotients of numbers. Napier's device was based on Arab mathematics and used the lattice method of multiplication. Each of the rods are inscribed with the multiplication tables for a specific number. By arranging the rods on the board, the product of two numbers can be found by performing addition operations. Use the Napier's Bones app to learn how one of the earliest calculating devices worked. More than 400 years ago, people used Napier's Bones to find the product of large numbers. In using this simulation you will discover a new way to multiply. Have fun!