History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v1.c8.s4.48

v1.c8.s4.48

The reader will note that the position of the multiplier and its motion serve two important purposes, *viz.*, (*i*) the last figure of the multiplier indicates the digit of the multiplicand by which multiplication is to be performed and, (*ii*) the product is to be added to the number standing underneath the digit of the multiplier multiplied.