just a multiplication I think

It's the function variable for the multiplication operation.
https://docs.python.org/3/library/operator.html#operator.mul

Wow, really nice solution. So simple it makes the question look easy.

I was also thinking of this but decided to just keep it simple. Didn't want to overcomplicate the code for no reason.

This solution was definitely easier to understand. Smart to put the rows variable inside the loop so it resets every time to add it to the columns variable. Saves lots of space and makes it a lot more clean and concise.

Very concise and efficient

You really went all out on the explaining. Thanks for the effort of explaining it that thorough.

Never knew of enumerate until this. Thanks for the helpful tip.

I'm not even gonna bother to try and read that

I find there are very simple and concise solutions to problems that can be solved with lesser knowledge that is a harder code. This is a nice solution compared to the lengthy method I used with the extent of my knowledge.

this is unique.

definitely a different solution