Why is 24 times 4 equal to 32 times 3?

Answer 1

24 = 3 x 8

32 = 8 x 4

24 x 4 = (3 x 8) x 4

= 3 x (8 x 4)

= 3 x 32

This is possible as the multiplication can be done is either order, the brackets above showing two possible ways of multiplying out 3 x 8 x 4:

1. by doing 3 x 8 first and multiplying the result of that by 4; or
2. by doing 8 x 4 first and multiplying the result of that by 3.

In both cases, the result is that of 3 x 8 x 4.