OK, let's crack this. We're given 999 and our task is to multiply it by 491. Essentially, we'll be adding 999 to itself 491 times.
Step 1: 0 + 999 = 999
Step 2: 999 + 999 = 1998
Step 3: 1998 + 999 = 2997
Step 4: 2997 + 999 = 3996
Step 5: 3996 + 999 = 4995
Step 6: 4995 + 999 = 5994
Step 7: 5994 + 999 = 6993
Step 8: 6993 + 999 = 7992
Step 9: 7992 + 999 = 8991
Step 10: 8991 + 999 = 9990
Step 11: 9990 + 999 = 10989
Step 12: 10989 + 999 = 11988
Step 13: 11988 + 999 = 12987
Step 14: 12987 + 999 = 13986
Step 15: 13986 + 999 = 14985
Step 16: 14985 + 999 = 15984
Step 17: 15984 + 999 = 16983
Step 18: 16983 + 999 = 17982
Step 19: 17982 + 999 = 18981
Step 20: 18981 + 999 = 19980
Step 21: 19980 + 999 = 20979
Step 22: 20979 + 999 = 21978
Step 23: 21978 + 999 = 22977
Step 24: 22977 + 999 = 23976
Step 25: 23976 + 999 = 24975
Step 26: 24975 + 999 = 25974
Step 27: 25974 + 999 = 26973
Step 28: 26973 + 999 = 27972
Step 29: 27972 + 999 = 28971
Step 30: 28971 + 999 = 29970
Step 31: 29970 + 999 = 30969
Step 32: 30969 + 999 = 31968
Step 33: 31968 + 999 = 32967
Step 34: 32967 + 999 = 33966
Step 35: 33966 + 999 = 34965
Step 36: 34965 + 999 = 35964
Step 37: 35964 + 999 = 36963
Step 38: 36963 + 999 = 37962
Step 39: 37962 + 999 = 38961
Step 40: 38961 + 999 = 39960
Step 41: 39960 + 999 = 40959
Step 42: 40959 + 999 = 41958
Step 43: 41958 + 999 = 42957
Step 44: 42957 + 999 = 43956
Step 45: 43956 + 999 = 44955
Step 46: 44955 + 999 = 45954
Step 47: 45954 + 999 = 46953
Step 48: 46953 + 999 = 47952
Step 49: 47952 + 999 = 48951
Step 50: 48951 + 999 = 49950
Step 51: 49950 + 999 = 50949
Step 52: 50949 + 999 = 51948
Step 53: 51948 + 999 = 52947
Step 54: 52947 + 999 = 53946
Step 55: 53946 + 999 = 54945
Step 56: 54945 + 999 = 55944
Step 57: 55944 + 999 = 56943
Step 58: 56943 + 999 = 57942
Step 59: 57942 + 999 = 58941
Step 60: 58941 + 999 = 59940
Step 61: 59940 + 999 = 60939
Step 62: 60939 + 999 = 61938
Step 63: 61938 + 999 = 62937
Step 64: 62937 + 999 = 63936
Step 65: 63936 + 999 = 64935
Step 66: 64935 + 999 = 65934
Step 67: 65934 + 999 = 66933
Step 68: 66933 + 999 = 67932
Step 69: 67932 + 999 = 68931
Step 70: 68931 + 999 = 69930
Step 71: 69930 + 999 = 70929
Step 72: 70929 + 999 = 71928
Step 73: 71928 + 999 = 72927
Step 74: 72927 + 999 = 73926
Step 75: 73926 + 999 = 74925
Step 76: 74925 + 999 = 75924
Step 77: 75924 + 999 = 76923
Step 78: 76923 + 999 = 77922
Step 79: 77922 + 999 = 78921
Step 80: 78921 + 999 = 79920
Step 81: 79920 + 999 = 80919
Step 82: 80919 + 999 = 81918
Step 83: 81918 + 999 = 82917
Step 84: 82917 + 999 = 83916
Step 85: 83916 + 999 = 84915
Step 86: 84915 + 999 = 85914
Step 87: 85914 + 999 = 86913
Step 88: 86913 + 999 = 87912
Step 89: 87912 + 999 = 88911
Step 90: 88911 + 999 = 89910
Step 91: 89910 + 999 = 90909
Step 92: 90909 + 999 = 91908
Step 93: 91908 + 999 = 92907
Step 94: 92907 + 999 = 93906
Step 95: 93906 + 999 = 94905
Step 96: 94905 + 999 = 95904
Step 97: 95904 + 999 = 96903
Step 98: 96903 + 999 = 97902
Step 99: 97902 + 999 = 98901
Step 100: 98901 + 999 = 99900
Step 101: 99900 + 999 = 100899
Step 102: 100899 + 999 = 101898
Step 103: 101898 + 999 = 102897
Step 104: 102897 + 999 = 103896
Step 105: 103896 + 999 = 104895
Step 106: 104895 + 999 = 105894
Step 107: 105894 + 999 = 106893
Step 108: 106893 + 999 = 107892
Step 109: 107892 + 999 = 108891
Step 110: 108891 + 999 = 109890
Step 111: 109890 + 999 = 110889
Step 112: 110889 + 999 = 111888
Step 113: 111888 + 999 = 112887
Step 114: 112887 + 999 = 113886
Step 115: 113886 + 999 = 114885
Step 116: 114885 + 999 = 115884
Step 117: 115884 + 999 = 116883
Step 118: 116883 + 999 = 117882
Step 119: 117882 + 999 = 118881
Step 120: 118881 + 999 = 119880
Step 121: 119880 + 999 = 120879
Step 122: 120879 + 999 = 121878
Step 123: 121878 + 999 = 122877
Step 124: 122877 + 999 = 123876
Step 125: 123876 + 999 = 124875
Step 126: 124875 + 999 = 125874
Step 127: 125874 + 999 = 126873
Step 128: 126873 + 999 = 127872
Step 129: 127872 + 999 = 128871
Step 130: 128871 + 999 = 129870
Step 131: 129870 + 999 = 130869
Step 132: 130869 + 999 = 131868
Step 133: 131868 + 999 = 132867
Step 134: 132867 + 999 = 133866
Step 135: 133866 + 999 = 134865
Step 136: 134865 + 999 = 135864
Step 137: 135864 + 999 = 136863
Step 138: 136863 + 999 = 137862
Step 139: 137862 + 999 = 138861
Step 140: 138861 + 999 = 139860
Step 141: 139860 + 999 = 140859
Step 142: 140859 + 999 = 141858
Step 143: 141858 + 999 = 142857
Step 144: 142857 + 999 = 143856
Step 145: 143856 + 999 = 144855
Step 146: 144855 + 999 = 145854
Step 147: 145854 + 999 = 146853
Step 148: 146853 + 999 = 147852
Step 149: 147852 + 999 = 148851
Step 150: 148851 + 999 = 149850
Step 151: 149850 + 999 = 150849
Step 152: 150849 + 999 = 151848
Step 153: 151848 + 999 = 152847
Step 154: 152847 + 999 = 153846
Step 155: 153846 + 999 = 154845
Step 156: 154845 + 999 = 155844
Step 157: 155844 + 999 = 156843
Step 158: 156843 + 999 = 157842
Step 159: 157842 + 999 = 158841
Step 160: 158841 + 999 = 159840
Step 161: 159840 + 999 = 160839
Step 162: 160839 + 999 = 161838
Step 163: 161838 + 999 = 162837
Step 164: 162837 + 999 = 163836
Step 165: 163836 + 999 = 164835
Step 166: 164835 + 999 = 165834
Step 167: 165834 + 999 = 166833
Step 168: 166833 + 999 = 167832
Step 169: 167832 + 999 = 168831
Step 170: 168831 + 999 = 169830
Step 171: 169830 + 999 = 170829
Step 172: 170829 + 999 = 171828
Step 173: 171828 + 999 = 172827
Step 174: 172827 + 999 = 173826
Step 175: 173826 + 999 = 174825
Step 176: 174825 + 999 = 175824
Step 177: 175824 + 999 = 176823
Step 178: 176823 + 999 = 177822
Step 179: 177822 + 999 = 178821
Step 180: 178821 + 999 = 179820
Step 181: 179820 + 999 = 180819
Step 182: 180819 + 999 = 181818
Step 183: 181818 + 999 = 182817
Step 184: 182817 + 999 = 183816
Step 185: 183816 + 999 = 184815
Step 186: 184815 + 999 = 185814
Step 187: 185814 + 999 = 186813
Step 188: 186813 + 999 = 187812
Step 189: 187812 + 999 = 188811
Step 190: 188811 + 999 = 189810
Step 191: 189810 + 999 = 190809
Step 192: 190809 + 999 = 191808
Step 193: 191808 + 999 = 192807
Step 194: 192807 + 999 = 193806
Step 195: 193806 + 999 = 194805
Step 196: 194805 + 999 = 195804
Step 197: 195804 + 999 = 196803
Step 198: 196803 + 999 = 197802
Step 199: 197802 + 999 = 198801
Step 200: 198801 + 999 = 199800
Step 201: 199800 + 999 = 200799
Step 202: 200799 + 999 = 201798
Step 203: 201798 + 999 = 202797
Step 204: 202797 + 999 = 203796
Step 205: 203796 + 999 = 204795
Step 206: 204795 + 999 = 205794
Step 207: 205794 + 999 = 206793
Step 208: 206793 + 999 = 207792
Step 209: 207792 + 999 = 208791
Step 210: 208791 + 999 = 209790
Step 211: 209790 + 999 = 210789
Step 212: 210789 + 999 = 211788
Step 213: 211788 + 999 = 212787
Step 214: 212787 + 999 = 213786
Step 215: 213786 + 999 = 214785
Step 216: 214785 + 999 = 215784
Step 217: 215784 + 999 = 216783
Step 218: 216783 + 999 = 217782
Step 219: 217782 + 999 = 218781
Step 220: 218781 + 999 = 219780
Step 221: 219780 + 999 = 220779
Step 222: 220779 + 999 = 221778
Step 223: 221778 + 999 = 222777
Step 224: 222777 + 999 = 223776
Step 225: 223776 + 999 = 224775
Step 226: 224775 + 999 = 225774
Step 227: 225774 + 999 = 226773
Step 228: 226773 + 999 = 227772
Step 229: 227772 + 999 = 228771
Step 230: 228771 + 999 = 229770
Step 231: 229770 + 999 = 230769
Step 232: 230769 + 999 = 231768
Step 233: 231768 + 999 = 232767
Step 234: 232767 + 999 = 233766
Step 235: 233766 + 999 = 234765
Step 236: 234765 + 999 = 235764
Step 237: 235764 + 999 = 236763
Step 238: 236763 + 999 = 237762
Step 239: 237762 + 999 = 238761
Step 240: 238761 + 999 = 239760
Step 241: 239760 + 999 = 240759
Step 242: 240759 + 999 = 241758
Step 243: 241758 + 999 = 242757
Step 244: 242757 + 999 = 243756
Step 245: 243756 + 999 = 244755
Step 246: 244755 + 999 = 245754
Step 247: 245754 + 999 = 246753
Step 248: 246753 + 999 = 247752
Step 249: 247752 + 999 = 248751
Step 250: 248751 + 999 = 249750
Step 251: 249750 + 999 = 250749
Step 252: 250749 + 999 = 251748
Step 253: 251748 + 999 = 252747
Step 254: 252747 + 999 = 253746
Step 255: 253746 + 999 = 254745
Step 256: 254745 + 999 = 255744
Step 257: 255744 + 999 = 256743
Step 258: 256743 + 999 = 257742
Step 259: 257742 + 999 = 258741
Step 260: 258741 + 999 = 259740
Step 261: 259740 + 999 = 260739
Step 262: 260739 + 999 = 261738
Step 263: 261738 + 999 = 262737
Step 264: 262737 + 999 = 263736
Step 265: 263736 + 999 = 264735
Step 266: 264735 + 999 = 265734
Step 267: 265734 + 999 = 266733
Step 268: 266733 + 999 = 267732
Step 269: 267732 + 999 = 268731
Step 270: 268731 + 999 = 269730
Step 271: 269730 + 999 = 270729
Step 272: 270729 + 999 = 271728
Step 273: 271728 + 999 = 272727
Step 274: 272727 + 999 = 273726
Step 275: 273726 + 999 = 274725
Step 276: 274725 + 999 = 275724
Step 277: 275724 + 999 = 276723
Step 278: 276723 + 999 = 277722
Step 279: 277722 + 999 = 278721
Step 280: 278721 + 999 = 279720
Step 281: 279720 + 999 = 280719
Step 282: 280719 + 999 = 281718
Step 283: 281718 + 999 = 282717
Step 284: 282717 + 999 = 283716
Step 285: 283716 + 999 = 284715
Step 286: 284715 + 999 = 285714
Step 287: 285714 + 999 = 286713
Step 288: 286713 + 999 = 287712
Step 289: 287712 + 999 = 288711
Step 290: 288711 + 999 = 289710
Step 291: 289710 + 999 = 290709
Step 292: 290709 + 999 = 291708
Step 293: 291708 + 999 = 292707
Step 294: 292707 + 999 = 293706
Step 295: 293706 + 999 = 294705
Step 296: 294705 + 999 = 295704
Step 297: 295704 + 999 = 296703
Step 298: 296703 + 999 = 297702
Step 299: 297702 + 999 = 298701
Step 300: 298701 + 999 = 299700
Step 301: 299700 + 999 = 300699
Step 302: 300699 + 999 = 301698
Step 303: 301698 + 999 = 302697
Step 304: 302697 + 999 = 303696
Step 305: 303696 + 999 = 304695
Step 306: 304695 + 999 = 305694
Step 307: 305694 + 999 = 306693
Step 308: 306693 + 999 = 307692
Step 309: 307692 + 999 = 308691
Step 310: 308691 + 999 = 309690
Step 311: 309690 + 999 = 310689
Step 312: 310689 + 999 = 311688
Step 313: 311688 + 999 = 312687
Step 314: 312687 + 999 = 313686
Step 315: 313686 + 999 = 314685
Step 316: 314685 + 999 = 315684
Step 317: 315684 + 999 = 316683
Step 318: 316683 + 999 = 317682
Step 319: 317682 + 999 = 318681
Step 320: 318681 + 999 = 319680
Step 321: 319680 + 999 = 320679
Step 322: 320679 + 999 = 321678
Step 323: 321678 + 999 = 322677
Step 324: 322677 + 999 = 323676
Step 325: 323676 + 999 = 324675
Step 326: 324675 + 999 = 325674
Step 327: 325674 + 999 = 326673
Step 328: 326673 + 999 = 327672
Step 329: 327672 + 999 = 328671
Step 330: 328671 + 999 = 329670
Step 331: 329670 + 999 = 330669
Step 332: 330669 + 999 = 331668
Step 333: 331668 + 999 = 332667
Step 334: 332667 + 999 = 333666
Step 335: 333666 + 999 = 334665
Step 336: 334665 + 999 = 335664
Step 337: 335664 + 999 = 336663
Step 338: 336663 + 999 = 337662
Step 339: 337662 + 999 = 338661
Step 340: 338661 + 999 = 339660
Step 341: 339660 + 999 = 340659
Step 342: 340659 + 999 = 341658
Step 343: 341658 + 999 = 342657
Step 344: 342657 + 999 = 343656
Step 345: 343656 + 999 = 344655
Step 346: 344655 + 999 = 345654
Step 347: 345654 + 999 = 346653
Step 348: 346653 + 999 = 347652
Step 349: 347652 + 999 = 348651
Step 350: 348651 + 999 = 349650
Step 351: 349650 + 999 = 350649
Step 352: 350649 + 999 = 351648
Step 353: 351648 + 999 = 352647
Step 354: 352647 + 999 = 353646
Step 355: 353646 + 999 = 354645
Step 356: 354645 + 999 = 355644
Step 357: 355644 + 999 = 356643
Step 358: 356643 + 999 = 357642
Step 359: 357642 + 999 = 358641
Step 360: 358641 + 999 = 359640
Step 361: 359640 + 999 = 360639
Step 362: 360639 + 999 = 361638
Step 363: 361638 + 999 = 362637
Step 364: 362637 + 999 = 363636
Step 365: 363636 + 999 = 364635
Step 366: 364635 + 999 = 365634
Step 367: 365634 + 999 = 366633
Step 368: 366633 + 999 = 367632
Step 369: 367632 + 999 = 368631
Step 370: 368631 + 999 = 369630
Step 371: 369630 + 999 = 370629
Step 372: 370629 + 999 = 371628
Step 373: 371628 + 999 = 372627
Step 374: 372627 + 999 = 373626
Step 375: 373626 + 999 = 374625
Step 376: 374625 + 999 = 375624
Step 377: 375624 + 999 = 376623
Step 378: 376623 + 999 = 377622
Step 379: 377622 + 999 = 378621
Step 380: 378621 + 999 = 379620
Step 381: 379620 + 999 = 380619
Step 382: 380619 + 999 = 381618
Step 383: 381618 + 999 = 382617
Step 384: 382617 + 999 = 383616
Step 385: 383616 + 999 = 384615
Step 386: 384615 + 999 = 385614
Step 387: 385614 + 999 = 386613
Step 388: 386613 + 999 = 387612
Step 389: 387612 + 999 = 388611
Step 390: 388611 + 999 = 389610
Step 391: 389610 + 999 = 390609
Step 392: 390609 + 999 = 391608
Step 393: 391608 + 999 = 392607
Step 394: 392607 + 999 = 393606
Step 395: 393606 + 999 = 394605
Step 396: 394605 + 999 = 395604
Step 397: 395604 + 999 = 396603
Step 398: 396603 + 999 = 397602
Step 399: 397602 + 999 = 398601
Step 400: 398601 + 999 = 399600
Step 401: 399600 + 999 = 400599
Step 402: 400599 + 999 = 401598
Step 403: 401598 + 999 = 402597
Step 404: 402597 + 999 = 403596
Step 405: 403596 + 999 = 404595
Step 406: 404595 + 999 = 405594
Step 407: 405594 + 999 = 406593
Step 408: 406593 + 999 = 407592
Step 409: 407592 + 999 = 408591
Step 410: 408591 + 999 = 409590
Step 411: 409590 + 999 = 410589
Step 412: 410589 + 999 = 411588
Step 413: 411588 + 999 = 412587
Step 414: 412587 + 999 = 413586
Step 415: 413586 + 999 = 414585
Step 416: 414585 + 999 = 415584
Step 417: 415584 + 999 = 416583
Step 418: 416583 + 999 = 417582
Step 419: 417582 + 999 = 418581
Step 420: 418581 + 999 = 419580
Step 421: 419580 + 999 = 420579
Step 422: 420579 + 999 = 421578
Step 423: 421578 + 999 = 422577
Step 424: 422577 + 999 = 423576
Step 425: 423576 + 999 = 424575
Step 426: 424575 + 999 = 425574
Step 427: 425574 + 999 = 426573
Step 428: 426573 + 999 = 427572
Step 429: 427572 + 999 = 428571
Step 430: 428571 + 999 = 429570
Step 431: 429570 + 999 = 430569
Step 432: 430569 + 999 = 431568
Step 433: 431568 + 999 = 432567
Step 434: 432567 + 999 = 433566
Step 435: 433566 + 999 = 434565
Step 436: 434565 + 999 = 435564
Step 437: 435564 + 999 = 436563
Step 438: 436563 + 999 = 437562
Step 439: 437562 + 999 = 438561
Step 440: 438561 + 999 = 439560
Step 441: 439560 + 999 = 440559
Step 442: 440559 + 999 = 441558
Step 443: 441558 + 999 = 442557
Step 444: 442557 + 999 = 443556
Step 445: 443556 + 999 = 444555
Step 446: 444555 + 999 = 445554
Step 447: 445554 + 999 = 446553
Step 448: 446553 + 999 = 447552
Step 449: 447552 + 999 = 448551
Step 450: 448551 + 999 = 449550
Step 451: 449550 + 999 = 450549
Step 452: 450549 + 999 = 451548
Step 453: 451548 + 999 = 452547
Step 454: 452547 + 999 = 453546
Step 455: 453546 + 999 = 454545
Step 456: 454545 + 999 = 455544
Step 457: 455544 + 999 = 456543
Step 458: 456543 + 999 = 457542
Step 459: 457542 + 999 = 458541
Step 460: 458541 + 999 = 459540
Step 461: 459540 + 999 = 460539
Step 462: 460539 + 999 = 461538
Step 463: 461538 + 999 = 462537
Step 464: 462537 + 999 = 463536
Step 465: 463536 + 999 = 464535
Step 466: 464535 + 999 = 465534
Step 467: 465534 + 999 = 466533
Step 468: 466533 + 999 = 467532
Step 469: 467532 + 999 = 468531
Step 470: 468531 + 999 = 469530
Step 471: 469530 + 999 = 470529
Step 472: 470529 + 999 = 471528
Step 473: 471528 + 999 = 472527
Step 474: 472527 + 999 = 473526
Step 475: 473526 + 999 = 474525
Step 476: 474525 + 999 = 475524
Step 477: 475524 + 999 = 476523
Step 478: 476523 + 999 = 477522
Step 479: 477522 + 999 = 478521
Step 480: 478521 + 999 = 479520
Step 481: 479520 + 999 = 480519
Step 482: 480519 + 999 = 481518
Step 483: 481518 + 999 = 482517
Step 484: 482517 + 999 = 483516
Step 485: 483516 + 999 = 484515
Step 486: 484515 + 999 = 485514
Step 487: 485514 + 999 = 486513
Step 488: 486513 + 999 = 487512
Step 489: 487512 + 999 = 488511
Step 490: 488511 + 999 = 489510
Step 491: 489510 + 999 = 490509

So, 999*491 = 490509