Breaking apart 6x6 is useless. It's already broken apart. The breaking apart method is used to multiply larger numbers, in your head. Like 160 x 4 [tex]160 * 4[/tex] Break apart the larger number into a set of addends that sums up to 160. 100 and 60 are addends. [tex]100 * 4 = 400[/tex] Multiply both numbers by the multiplier ( 4 ) [tex]60 * 4 = 240[/tex] (You can even break down the 60 into something smaller) [tex]400 + 240 = 640[/tex] Add up both of the products to get your final answer.