Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could quickly add large numbers, calculate percentages, and effortlessly divide and multiply almost any numbers?
With these 10 tips for doing math fast, you can! Practice them until they become second nature and you will no longer need a calculator for otherwise easy calculations.
These tricks will help you do well in exams when time is limited and navigate through everyday life with more ease. Plus, your teachers will be impressed with your new problem-solving speed.
1. Adding large numbers
Adding large numbers just in your head can be difficult. This method shows how to simplify this process by making all the numbers a multiple of 10. Here is an example:
644 + 238
While these numbers are hard to contend with, rounding them up will make them more manageable. So, 644 becomes 650 and 238 becomes 240. Now, add 650 and 240 together. The total is 890. To find the answer to the original equation, it must be determined how much we added to the numbers to round them up.
650 – 644 = 6 and 240 – 238 = 2
Now, add 6 and 2 together for a total of 8 To find the answer to the original equation, 8 must be subtracted from the 890.
890 – 8 = 882
So the answer to 644 +238 is 882
2. Subtracting from 1,000
Here’s a basic rule to subtract a large number from 1,000: Subtract every number except the last from 9 and subtract the final number from 10 For example:
1,000 – 556
- Subtract 5 from 9 = 4
- Subtract 5 from 9 = 4
- Subtract 6 from 10 = 4
The answer is 444.
3. Multiplying 5 times any number
When multiplying the number 5 by an even number, there is a quick way to find the answer. For example
5 x 4 =
- Take the number being multiplied by 5 and cut it in half, this makes the number 4 become the number 2.
- Add a zero to the number to find the answer. In this case, the answer is 20.
5 x 4 = 20
When multiplying an odd number times 5, the formula is a bit different. For instance, consider 5 x 3.
5 x 3 =
- Subtract one from the number being multiplied by 5, in this instance the number 3 becomes the number 2.
- Now halve the number 2, which makes it the number 1. Make 5 the last digit. The number produced is 15, which is the answer.
5 x 3 = 15
4. Division tricks
Here’s a quick way to know when a number can be evenly divided by these certain numbers:
- 10 if the number ends in 0
- 9 when the digits are added together and the total is evenly divisible by 9
- 8 if the last three digits are evenly divisible by 8 or are 000
- 6 if it is an even number and when the digits are added together the answer is evenly divisible by 3
- 5 if it ends in a 0 or 5
- 4 if it ends in 00 or a two-digit number that is evenly divisible by 4
- 3 when the digits are added together and the result is evenly divisible by the number 3
- 2 if it ends in 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8
5. Multiplying by 9
This is an easy method that is helpful for multiplying any number by 9. Here is how it works: Let’s use the example of 9 x 3.
9 x 3 =
- Subtract 1 from the number that is being multiplied by 9.
3 – 1 = 2.
The number 2 is the first number in the answer to the equation. - Subtract that number from the number 9.
9 – 2 = 7
The number 7 is the second number in the answer to the equation.
So, 9 x 3 = 27
6. 10 and 11 times tricks
The trick to multiplying any number by 10 is to add a zero to the end of the number. There is also an easy trick for multiplying any two-digit number by 11. Here it is: 11 x 25 Take the original two-digit number and put a space between the digits. In this example, that number is 25. 2_5 Now add those two numbers together and put the result in the center: 2_(2 + 5)_5 2_7_5 The answer to 11 x 25 is 275. If the numbers in the center add up to a number with two digits, insert the second number and add 1 to the first one. Here is an example for the equation 11 x 88 8_(8 +8)_8 (8 + 1)_6_8 9_6_8 There is the answer to 11 x 88: 968
For example, 62 x 10 = 620.
There is also an easy trick for multiplying any two-digit number by 11. Here it is:
11 x 25
- Take the original two-digit number and put a space between the digits. In this example, that number is 25.
- Now add those two numbers together and put the result in the center
2_(2 + 5)_5 2_7_5
The answer to 11 x 25 is 275.
If the numbers in the center add up to a number with two digits, insert the second number and add 1 to the first one. Here is an example for the equation:
11 x 88 8_(8 +8)_8 (8 + 1)_6_8 9_6_8
There is the answer to 11 x 88: 968
7. Percentage
Finding a percentage of a number can be somewhat tricky, but thinking about it in the right terms makes it much easier to understand. For instance, to find out what 5% of 235 is, follow this method:
- Move the decimal point over by one place, 235 becomes 23.5.
- Divide 23.5 by the number 2, the answer is 11.75.
That is also the answer to the original equation.
8. Quickly square a two-digit number that ends in 5
Let’s use the number 35 as an example.
- Multiply the first digit by itself plus 1.
- Put a 25 at the end.
35 squared = [3 x (3 + 1)] & 25 [3 x (3 + 1)] = 12
12 & 25 = 1225
35 squared = 1225
9. Tough multiplication
When multiplying large numbers, if one of the numbers is even, divide the first number in half, and then double the second number. This method will solve the problem quickly.
For instance, consider 20 x 120
- Divide the 20 by 2, which equals 10.
- Double 120, which equals 240.
- Then multiply your two answers together.
10 x 240 = 2400
The answer to 20 x 120 is 2,400.
10. Multiplying numbers that end in zero
Multiplying numbers that end in zero is actually quite simple. It involves multiplying the other numbers together and then adding the zeros at the end.
Interested in more? If you enjoyed these 10 tips for doing math fast, you will also enjoy our five tricks for doing math in your head without a calculator. Dive in to learn more about why mental math is important and discover some cool think-of-a-number tricks you can use to practice your skills in a fun and engaging way.
For instance, consider: 200 x 400
- Multiply the 2 times the 4
2 x 4 = 8 - Put all four of the zeros after the 8
80,000
200 x 400= 80,000
Interested in more?
If you enjoyed these 10 tips for doing math fast, you will also enjoy our five tricks for doing math in your head without a calculator. Dive in to learn more about why mental math is important and discover some cool think-of-a-number tricks you can use to practice your skills in a fun and engaging way.
