Alright, let's solve this math problem step by step. First, we have the number 986. 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 986 and add it to itself 42 times.
Step 1: 0 + 986 = 986
Step 2: 986 + 986 = 1972
Step 3: 1972 + 986 = 2958
Step 4: 2958 + 986 = 3944
Step 5: 3944 + 986 = 4930
Step 6: 4930 + 986 = 5916
Step 7: 5916 + 986 = 6902
Step 8: 6902 + 986 = 7888
Step 9: 7888 + 986 = 8874
Step 10: 8874 + 986 = 9860
Step 11: 9860 + 986 = 10846
Step 12: 10846 + 986 = 11832
Step 13: 11832 + 986 = 12818
Step 14: 12818 + 986 = 13804
Step 15: 13804 + 986 = 14790
Step 16: 14790 + 986 = 15776
Step 17: 15776 + 986 = 16762
Step 18: 16762 + 986 = 17748
Step 19: 17748 + 986 = 18734
Step 20: 18734 + 986 = 19720
Step 21: 19720 + 986 = 20706
Step 22: 20706 + 986 = 21692
Step 23: 21692 + 986 = 22678
Step 24: 22678 + 986 = 23664
Step 25: 23664 + 986 = 24650
Step 26: 24650 + 986 = 25636
Step 27: 25636 + 986 = 26622
Step 28: 26622 + 986 = 27608
Step 29: 27608 + 986 = 28594
Step 30: 28594 + 986 = 29580
Step 31: 29580 + 986 = 30566
Step 32: 30566 + 986 = 31552
Step 33: 31552 + 986 = 32538
Step 34: 32538 + 986 = 33524
Step 35: 33524 + 986 = 34510
Step 36: 34510 + 986 = 35496
Step 37: 35496 + 986 = 36482
Step 38: 36482 + 986 = 37468
Step 39: 37468 + 986 = 38454
Step 40: 38454 + 986 = 39440
Step 41: 39440 + 986 = 40426
Step 42: 40426 + 986 = 41412

So, 986*42 = 41412