Russian peasant multiplication

noun

A form of multiplication in which the powers of two in the decomposition of the multiplicand are found by writing it on the left and progressively halving the left column, discarding any remainder, until the value is 1 (or −1, in which case the eventual sum is negated), while doubling the right column.

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Meanings

nounRussian peasant multiplication (uncountable)
  1. uncountablemultiplicationA form of multiplication in which the powers of two in the decomposition of the multiplicand are found by writing it on the left and progressively halving the left column, discarding any remainder, until the value is 1 (or −1, in which case the eventual sum is negated), while doubling the right column.
Cite this entry
APA

Russian peasant multiplication. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Russian%20peasant%20multiplication

MLA

“Russian peasant multiplication.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Russian%20peasant%20multiplication. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Russian peasant multiplication,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Russian%20peasant%20multiplication.

Source: Russian peasant multiplication on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.