Study the pattern:

1 × 8 + 1 = 9 1234 × 8 + 4 = 9876

12 × 8 + 2 = 98 12345 × 8 + 5 = 98765

123 × 8 + 3 = 987

Write the next two steps. Can you say how the pattern works?

(Hint: 12345 = 11111 + 1111 + 111 + 11 + 1).

123456 × 8 + 6 = 987648 + 6 = 987654

1234567 × 8 + 7 = 9876536 + 7 = 9876543

Yes, the pattern works.

As 123456 = 111111 + 11111 + 1111 + 111 + 11 + 1,

123456 × 8 = (111111 + 11111 + 1111 + 111 + 11 + 1) × 8

= 111111 × 8 + 11111 × 8 + 1111 × 8 + 111 × 8 + 11 × 8 + 1 × 8

= 888888 + 88888 + 8888 + 888 + 88 + 8 = 987648

123456 × 8 + 6 = 987648 + 6 = 987654