How to do Lattice Multiplication

Multiplying digits more than 3 can be tiresome and erroneous. A simple way to do
higher multiplication is lattice multiplication, which is illustrated on the steps shown
below:
Step 1: Draw a table with a x b number of columns and rows, respectively.
The number a corresponds ot the number of digits of the multiplicand and b to the
digits of the multiplier. The multiplicand is the first number in a multiplication
operation while the multiplier is the last number. For formalities sake, well number
the cells from left going to the right then from top to bottom. So the first cell is
located on the first row and first column and the second cell is located also on the
first row but on the second column, and so on and so forth.
Step 2: Align the digits of the multiplicand with the columns and place it
on top of the table. Also, align the digits of the multiplier with the rows
and place them on the right side of the table.
Step 3: Create a diagonal path for the tables. For the first cell, just draw a line
from the top most right corner going down to the left. For the second cell, also draw
a line from the top most right side going to the left until it reaches the last cell also
on its left, repeat for the remaining cells. Your table should be full of right triangles
by now.
Step 4: Multiply the numbers by distributive method. Multiply the first
number of the multiplicand, and the first number of the multiplier. If the answer is
less than 10, write the answer on the lower triangle and write 0 on the upper
triangle. If the answer is more than 10, write the first digit of the answer on the
upper triangle of the cell, and the second digit on the lower triangle. Then multiply
the first digit of the multiplicand to the succeeding digits of the multiplier. Repeat
the same step for the next digits of the multiplicand.
Step 5: Start adding the numbers on the same diagonal paths starting
from the last triangle of the last cell, then going up the table. Place the
answer on the left side of the diagonal paths. If the answer exceeds ten, write the
last number of the answer on the same left side while carrying over the second
digit to the next diagonal path.
Step 6: Combine the digits of the answer by going from the top to bottom
then going from left to right. Simply combine the numbers side by side.

For a clearer understanding, lets try an example.

Suppose you want to multiply 789 with 461. Since they both have three digits, our
table will be a 3 x 3.

Following Step 2 and Step 3, we now place the digits on their respective sides and
create the diagonal paths as well.

Now, we multiply the digits of the multiplicand and the multiplier.

Following step 5, lets look at the last cell. Since it contains only the number 9, we
just copy that and it will serve as one of the digits of our final answer. Now, look at
the second diagonal path from the bottom. To get a digit for the final answer, lets
add them: 8+0+4=12. Since the answer of that diagonal path is greater than ten,
we ought to retain the last digit, 2, and carry over the first digit, 1, to the next
diagonal path. We, then, repeat the procedure for all remaining diagonal paths.

To get the final answer, just combine the number going from top to bottom, then left
to right. Therefore: 789 x 461 = 363, 729