To the fourth power

Extrapolating on the principles used for cubing, to get the fourth power of a number (of two or more digits), simplify by splitting the number into two parts, a and b.

Thus (a + b)4 = a4 + 4a3b + 6a2b2 + 4ab3 + b4

Fourth power shortcut technique
The solution comprises five parts, neatly fitting the five boxes shown above. Just adjust for excess carry over.
  1. a4
  2. a3 x b x 4
  3. a2 x b2 x 6
  4. b3 x a x 4
  5. b4

A simple example to illustrate this technique.
234 = 279841

Fourth power technique example
The steps are:
  1. 34 = 81, put down the 1 in the rightmost box and carry over the 8
  2. 33 x 2 x 4 = 216, plus the 8 carried over is 224, put down the 4 and carry over the 22
  3. 22 x 32 x 6 = 216, plus the 22 carried over is 238, put down the 8 and carry over the 23
  4. 23 x 3 x 4 = 96, plus the 23 carried over is 119, put down the 9 and carry over the 11
  5. 24 = 16, plus the 11 carried over, is 27 in the leftmost box

Another example.
1084 = 136048896

Fourth power technique example
The steps are:
  1. 84 = 4096, put down the 6 in the rightmost box and carry over the 409
  2. 83 x 10 x 4 = 20480, plus the 409 carried over is 20889, put down the 9 and carry over the 2088
  3. 102 x 82 x 6 = 38400, plus the 2088 carried over is 40488, put down the 8 and carry over the 4048
  4. 103 x 8 x 4 = 32000, plus the 4048 carried over is 36048, put down the 8 and carry over the 3604
  5. 104 = 10000, plus the 3604 carried over, is 13604 in the leftmost box

That's a hundred million-dollar figure worked out manually!