Question

Find the missing digits indicated by the letters a and b in the given multiplication.

• A. $a=4,b=3$
• B. $a=5,b=2$
• C. $a=3,b=2$
• D. $a=4,b=2$

Answer 1

The correct option is D $a=4,b=2$

Let us find the multiplication using the standard multiplication method.
$\bullet$ Let us represent the multiplication using rods and blocks.

$54\times 8$
$\bullet$ $54\times 8$ means 8 lots of 54. We know that $54=50+4$.
$\bullet$ Hence, 8 lots of 54 means 8 lots of 50 and 8 lots of 4.

Let us represent this using rods and blocks.



Compare the answer with the given multiplication to find the unknowns.
$\bullet$ $a=4;b=2$

Hence, option C is the correct answer.