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.