Binary Multiplication - How to Multiply Binary Numbers

Binary multiplication is actually much simpler to calculate than decimal multiplication. In the case of decimal multiplication, we need to remember 3 x 9 = 27, 7 x 8 = 56, and so on. In binary multiplication, we only need to remember the following,

0 x 0 = 0
0 x 1 = 0
1 x 0 = 0
1 x 1 = 1

Note that since binary operates in base 2, the multiplication rules we need to remember are those that involve 0 and 1 only. As an example of binary multiplication we have 101 times 11,

  101
  x11

First we multiply 101 by 1, which produces 101. Then we put a 0 as a placeholder as we would in decimal multiplication, and multiply 101 by 1, which produces 101.

  101
  x11
  101
1010  <-- the 0 here is the placeholder

The next step, as with decimal multiplication, is to add. The results from our previous step indicates that we must add 101 and 1010, the sum of which is 1111.

  101
  x11
  101
1010
1111

To practice binary multiplication, visit the Practice Exercises page.

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