Alright, let's solve this math problem step by step. First, we have the number 988. Next, we see the multiplication sign, which means we need to multiply something. And what are we multiplying it by? We multiply it by 42. So, we're going to take the number 988 and add it to itself 42 times.
Step 1: 0 + 988 = 988
Step 2: 988 + 988 = 1976
Step 3: 1976 + 988 = 2964
Step 4: 2964 + 988 = 3952
Step 5: 3952 + 988 = 4940
Step 6: 4940 + 988 = 5928
Step 7: 5928 + 988 = 6916
Step 8: 6916 + 988 = 7904
Step 9: 7904 + 988 = 8892
Step 10: 8892 + 988 = 9880
Step 11: 9880 + 988 = 10868
Step 12: 10868 + 988 = 11856
Step 13: 11856 + 988 = 12844
Step 14: 12844 + 988 = 13832
Step 15: 13832 + 988 = 14820
Step 16: 14820 + 988 = 15808
Step 17: 15808 + 988 = 16796
Step 18: 16796 + 988 = 17784
Step 19: 17784 + 988 = 18772
Step 20: 18772 + 988 = 19760
Step 21: 19760 + 988 = 20748
Step 22: 20748 + 988 = 21736
Step 23: 21736 + 988 = 22724
Step 24: 22724 + 988 = 23712
Step 25: 23712 + 988 = 24700
Step 26: 24700 + 988 = 25688
Step 27: 25688 + 988 = 26676
Step 28: 26676 + 988 = 27664
Step 29: 27664 + 988 = 28652
Step 30: 28652 + 988 = 29640
Step 31: 29640 + 988 = 30628
Step 32: 30628 + 988 = 31616
Step 33: 31616 + 988 = 32604
Step 34: 32604 + 988 = 33592
Step 35: 33592 + 988 = 34580
Step 36: 34580 + 988 = 35568
Step 37: 35568 + 988 = 36556
Step 38: 36556 + 988 = 37544
Step 39: 37544 + 988 = 38532
Step 40: 38532 + 988 = 39520
Step 41: 39520 + 988 = 40508
Step 42: 40508 + 988 = 41496

So, 988*42 = 41496