SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK!
"Elementary, My Dear"

Original  Air Date

January 20, 1973

The multiplication of 2 is taught in the context of the story of Noah's Ark. This song was voted #17 on the 30th Anniversary DVD's Top 25.

"Elementary, My Dear" Lyrics

Forty days and forty nights

Didn't it rain, children

Not a speck of land in sight

Didn't it, didn't it rain

But Noah built the ark so tight

They sailed on, children

And when at last the waters receded

And the dove brought back the olive tree leaf

He landed that ship near Mount Ararat

And one of his children grabbed Noah's robe and said

"Hey Dad, how many animals on this old ark anyway, huh?"

Elementary, my dear, two time two is four

Elementary, my dear, two time three is six

Elementary, my dear, two time four is eight

Elementary, my dear, two time five is ten

Two times one is two, of course

And it must occur to you

You get an even number

Every time you multiply by two

Elementary, my dear, two time six is twelve

Elementary, my dear, two time seven is fourteen

Elementary, my dear, two times eight is sixteen

Elementary, my dear, two times nine is eighteen

Two times ten is twenty, eleven twice is twenty-two

Double twelve that's twenty-four, thirteen twice is twenty-six

Fourteen twice is twenty-eight, fifteen twice is thirty

Now you build it up on thirty

Sixteen twice is thirty-two, elementary

Seventeen twice is thirty-four, elementary

Eighteen twice is thirty-six, elementary

Nineteen twice is thirty-eight, elementary

Twenty twice is forty, and it must occur to you

You can double any number

All you do is multiply by two

Elementary, my dear, two time two is four (Woo!)

Elementary, my dear, two time three is six (Yeah!)

Elementary, my dear, two time four is eight (Woop!)

Elementary, my dear, two time five is ten (Yeah!)

Now, if you want to multiply two times 174

Or some big number like that

Two times 174 equals two times 100 plus two times 70 plus two times 4

That's all

So two times 174 equals 200 plus 140 plus 8 . . . or 348

It's elementary!

Elementary . . . elementary . . .

Twice 32 is 64, elementary

Twice 33 is 66, elementary

Twice 34 is 68, elementary

Twice 35 is 70, elementary

Yeah, yes, it's elementary, yeah

Now, what's two times 98?

Aww! That's hard!

No, it's very simple

Two times 98 equals two times a hundred, minus two times two

That's 200 minus four . . . 196

Elementary

Forty days and forty nights

Didn't it rain, children?