The history of multiplication

The history of multiplication is long and complicated, and its exact origins are still debated by scholars. However, it is clear that the concept of multiplication has been around for thousands of years.

One of the earliest known examples comes from the ancient Egyptians, who used a system of doubling to keep track of large numbers of livestock. This system may have been adapted by the Greeks, who are credited with developing the first formal algorithm for multiplication.

This algorithm, called the “method of exhaustion,” was later refined by Hindu mathematicians and eventually spread to Europe via Arabic scholars.

Today, multiplication is taught to schoolchildren all over the world as a fundamental part of mathematics. Though it may seem like a simple concept, multiplication is a powerful tool that has helped humans to understand and reckon with the complexities of the world around them.