1. \( \begin{array}{r}257 \\ \times \quad 50 \\ \hline\end{array} \)

Alright, let’s break it down! To multiply 257 by 50, you can first take a shortcut by realizing that multiplying by 50 is the same as multiplying by 100 and then dividing by 2. So, when you multiply 257 by 100, you get 25,700. Then, when you divide that by 2, you get 12,850. Ta-da! Now, if you prefer the traditional way, simply multiply 257 by 50 directly: - \(257 \times 50 = 12,850\). That’s it! You’ve got your answer! 🎉