Question

Find the squares of the following numbers using column method. Verify the result by finding the square using the usual multiplication: 

96 

Answer 1

Here, a = 9, b = 6
Step 1. Make 3 columns and write the values of a², 2 x a x b and b² in these columns.

Column I	Column II	Column III
a2	2 x a x b	b2
81	108	36

Step 2. Underline the unit digit of b² (in Column III) and add its tens digit, if any, with 2 x a x b (in Column II).

Column I	Column II	Column III
a2	2 x a x b	b2
81	108 + 3	36
	111

Step 3. Underline the unit digit in Column II and add the number formed by the tens and other digits, if any, with a² in Column I.

Column I	Column II	Column III
a2	2 x a x b	b2
81 + 11	108 + 3	36
92	111

Step 4. Underline the number in Column I.

Column I	Column II	Column III
a2	2 x a x b	b2
81 + 11	108 + 3	36
92	111

Step 5. Write the underlined digits at the bottom of each column to obtain the square of the given number.
In this case, we have:
96² = 9216
Using multiplication:
    96
    96
  576
864   
9216
This matches with the result obtained using the column method.