For example, if you are multiplying 34×12{\displaystyle 34\times 12}, you would determine that the first number, 34, has a 4 in the ones place, and a 3 in the tens place.

Draw the lines at about a 45 degree angle, slanting down towards the right. For example, if you are representing 34, you would draw 3 parallel lines.

Leave some space between the ones lines and the tens lines, so you can tell them apart. For example, if you are representing 34, you will draw 4 parallel lines.

For example, if your second number is 12, you would determine that you have a 2 in the ones place, and a 1 in the tens place.

It might be helpful to draw each number’s lines in a different color. For example, if you are representing the number 12, you would draw 1 parallel line crossing over the sets of lines from the first number.

Leave some space between the ones lines and the tens lines, so you can tell them apart. For example, if you are representing 12, you will draw 2 parallel lines below the 1 line you drew for the tens place.

Think, “A one times a one equals a one. ” For example, for 34×12{\displaystyle 34\times 12}, you would circle the dots formed where the 4 lines intersect with the 2 lines, which are in the set on the right side of the diagram.

Think, “A one times a ten equals a ten. ” For example, for 34×12{\displaystyle 34\times 12}, you would circle the dots formed where the 1 line intersects with the 4 lines, and where the 2 lines intersect with the 3 lines, which are in the middle of the diagram.

Think, “A ten times a ten equals a hundred. ” For example, for 34×12{\displaystyle 34\times 12}, you would circle the dots formed where the 3 lines intersect with the 1 line, which is on the left side of the diagram.

For 34×12{\displaystyle 34\times 12}, you should count 8 dots. So 8{\displaystyle 8} will be the digit in the ones place of your final answer.

For 34×12{\displaystyle 34\times 12}, you should count 10 dots. Just like any time you add or multiply, once a digit in any place value reaches 10, you need to carry. So, if you count 10 for the tens place, you would place a 0{\displaystyle 0} in the tens place, and carry the 1 over to the hundreds place.

For 34×12{\displaystyle 34\times 12}, you should count 3 dots. Don’t forget to add any amount you carried over. For 34×12{\displaystyle 34\times 12}, you carried over a 1 from the tens place, so calculate 3+1=4{\displaystyle 3+1=4}. So 4{\displaystyle 4} will be the digit in the hundreds place of your final answer.

For example, for 34×12{\displaystyle 34\times 12}, you determine an 8{\displaystyle 8} goes in the ones place, a 0{\displaystyle 0} goes in the tens place, and a 4{\displaystyle 4} goes in the hundreds place. So your final answer is 408{\displaystyle 408}.