Technical Musings of a Curious Mind

Of Ethopian and Egyptian Multiplication

spranesh — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:31:06 +0000

A long time ago, maybe when I was in second standard or so, a teacher told me about this Egyptian Multiplication method. Suppose you wanted to multiply 14 with 23. You keep halving one, and doubling the other.

   Double       Halve
     14            23
     28            11
     56            5
     112           2
     224           1

Now simply add the numbers in the double column which have an odd parter in the halve column. That would be 14+28+56+224 = 322. And voila, 14 * 23 is indeed 322.

It used to amaze me quite a bit as a kid. I could multiply huge numbers with relatively small numbers, by just knowing how to halve and to add. In fact, as a result, I pushed off learning the two digit multiplication “method” – till, I was forced to by my mother .

I forgot about it by the time I was in the fifth I think, till I came across it here. I was thinking about it again, when it struck me. I was just multiplying in binary . I had come a full circle .

Try reasoning about some of the other ways in that post and the next. Makes for some fun thinking.

Compiler Errors

spranesh — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 05:10:51 +0000

Ever had the C++ sucks moment? It happened to me today morning!

Still, C++ rocks!

(made with inkscape)

PNoC

spranesh — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 09:40:40 +0000

[Update (3rd Jan 2009)] : The site is no longer up.

PNoC registration is open. PNoC stands for PoC Night-out of Code.

You can find further details here

PNoC is inspired from GSoC

( Also please do take our aptitude test )

–

Credits : btvp

printf(“Hello World”);

spranesh — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:30:42 +0000

I have been pushing off starting this blog for quite some time now. I had it registered, but I never quite got it going.

When you are a week away from the End Sems, every pasture seems greener that it generally is. This is typically the time I break away from my schedule for the rest of the semester and try my hand at new things.

First Semester, I started putting night-outs generally one week before the end semesters. Second semester, it was FIFA madness. Third Semester .. statistical exception (:D). Fourth Semester, movie/live-concert/sitcom watching. I also start this blog.

Why this blog?

Look here.