Maths question - how do you work this one out?

[roisin]

Obviously you could get a calculator out. But calculators not allowed, what is the method/trick to work this out:

One of these statements is correct. Which one?
A 266556 x 655662 = 374664 x 466473
B 366557 x 755663 = 574664 x 466475
C 166558 x 855661 = 474668 x 866474
D 566554 x 455665 = 374666 x 666473
E 966552 x 255669 = 374665 x 566473

A
Look at what you get multiplying the smallest digits only

without calc i would say a ?

multipy the last digit of each number if one is the same and no other is it's the correct one.

Look at the last digits in the sum. In looking at A the lefthand side must end in a 2, whilst the righthand side must also end in a 2. Looking at B the LH side must end in a 1, whilst the RH side will end in 0.

Go through the rest and you see that A is the only possible answer.

multiply the 2 last numbers? ie A 2x6 = 3x4
b 3x7 not= to 4x5
c 1x8 not= 4x8
d 4x5 not= 6x3
e 2x9 not= 3x5 ?

too slow

I just multiplied the first numbers of each - and see if they were roundabout right

i.e. A 12 = 12
B 21 = 20
C 8 = 32

etc

Could be B though!

Yeah, just check the smallest digits, and compare the smallest digit of their results. So 2x6 produces 12 (only the 2 counts), 3x4 produces 12 (only the 2 counts). Fast and easy.

thank you!