MULTIPLYING BY 125
Rule: Move the decimal point of the given number 1 three places to the right and divide by 8.
Dividing by 8 may not seem to be much of a short cut at first, but a simple application of the method will prove its worth.
Multiply 1,483 by 125.
The usual multiplication process would require twelve multiplication steps plus many steps in addition. The short-cut method uses one step in division. First, move the decimal point of the given number three places to the right.
1,983.000 becomes 1,983,000.
Next, divide by 8. Division by 8 can be simplified by di-viding the given number by 2, then dividing the quotient by 2, and finally dividing the second quotient by 2. This third quotient is the final answer. Thus, 1,483,000 can be men-tally divided by 2, giving us 791,500. Inspection shows that 741,500 can once again be easily divided by 2, giving 370,750. Each time we halve the given number, the divisor 8 must also be halved.
8/2 = 4; 4/2 = 2
To obtain the product we are looking for, we need merely divide 370,750 by 2. 370,750 ÷ 2 = 185,375 Answer Naturally, the same answer would have been obtained by dividing by 8 directly. 1,483,000 + 8 = 185,375 Answer
