How to get the product of two integers without using * JavaScript

We are required to write a function that takes in two numbers and returns their product, but without using the (*) operator.

Method 1: Using Division Operator

We know that multiplication and division are inverse operations, so if we divide a number by another number's inverse, it's the same as multiplying the two numbers.

The mathematical concept: a × b = a ÷ (1 ÷ b)

const a = 20, b = 45;
const product = (a, b) => a / (1 / b);
console.log(product(a, b));

900

Method 2: Using Logarithms

Using the logarithmic property: log(a) + log(b) = log(a × b), we can calculate the product using exponential functions.

const a = 20, b = 45;
const product = (a, b) => {
    const logProduct = Math.log(a) + Math.log(b);
    return Math.round(Math.exp(logProduct));
};
console.log(product(a, b));

900

Method 3: Using Repeated Addition

For positive integers, multiplication is essentially repeated addition. We can add one number to itself multiple times.

const product = (a, b) => {
    if (b === 0) return 0;
    let result = 0;
    let isNegative = (a 

42
-20
0


Comparison

Conclusion

The division method is the most practical approach for calculating products without the multiplication operator. For educational purposes, repeated addition demonstrates the fundamental concept of multiplication.