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5 Simple Math Tricks for Faster

Computations
Joe Lucero January 3, 2013 20 Comments

For every five hours of studying combinatorics-type

questions, the average GMAT student increases their
chances of being able to correctly answer a question
type that is found only on the very difficult end of the
GMAT spectrum. Meanwhile, the same student will have
to compute hundreds of basic computations without the
aid of a calculator. For students who know how to
quickly do these computations, they are rewarded with
extra minutes that can be spent double-checking their
work and critically thinking about whether their answers
make sense. As BenGMAT Franklin might say- a
second saved is a second earned on the GMAT but it
doesnt matter if those extra seconds come from being
faster at doing combinatorics questions or quicker at
computations. So check out these five math tricks, learn
the ones that you like, and practice them daily to give
yourself some extra time to finish off that 37th and final quant question.
Note: like everything else on the GMAT, being able to do something and being able to do something
QUICKLY are two different tasks. If you like any of the following tricks, make sure you know it inside and
out before you try using it during your test.

1. Add or Subtract 2 or 3 Digit Numbers

To add numbers that arent already a multiple of ten or one-hundred, round the number to the nearest tens
or hundreds digit, add, and then add or subtract by the number you rounded off. Do the opposite when
subtracting.
Examples:
144 + 48 = 144 + 50 2 = 192
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1385 492 = 1385 500 + 8 = 893

Why?
This math trick comes down to the order of operations- adding and subtracting occur in the same step and
can happen in either order. Like many other computation tricks, this one comes down to replacing one
tricky computation with two simpler ones.

2. Multiply or Divide by 5
To multiply a number by 5, divide by 2 and then multiply by 10. To divide a number by 5, divide by 10 and
then multiply by 2.
Example:
82 5 = 82 2 x 10 = 410
Why?
This math trick comes down to the order of operations- multiplying and dividing occur in the same step
and can happen in either order. But instead of doing the (somewhat) difficult task of multiplying by 5, do
the easier task of multiplying by the fraction 10/2. And since you can do this in either order, you can start
by dividing a number by 2 or multiplying the number by 10. Starting with division is usually easier when
you start with an even number (34 5 = 17 x 10 = 170) while starting with multiplication is easier when
beginning with a non-integer (6.4 5 = 64 2 = 32). And instead of thinking about dividing by 5, think
about multiplying by 2/10 (455 5 = 45.5 2 = 91).

3. Multiply Numbers Between 11 & 19

To multiply two numbers that are between 11 and 19, add the ones digit of one number to the other
number, multiply by 10, and then add the product of the ones digits.
Example:
14 13 = (17 10) + (4 3) = 182
Why?
In the standard way that most American-students are taught to multiply numbers, you set up two numbers
on top of one another like this:
14

13
42

140
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182

This leads to a problem where you multiply 3 by 14, then multiply 10 by 14 and add the two products
together. But you can rearrange this problem further to say you want to multiply 3 by 4, 3 by 10, and 10
by 14. Because you are multiplying both 3 and 14 by the same factor of 10 (which only happens when
both numbers are between 11-19), you can combine this into one step. So instead of doing one tricky
computation (3 14) and two easy ones (10 14 and 42 + 140), you make four easy computations
(14 + 3, 17 10, 4 3, and 170 + 12).

4. Square Any Number Between 11 & 99

To square any number n, first find the nearest multiple of 10 and find out how much you would have to add
or subtract (k) to get to that number. Then do the opposite function (addition or subtraction) to get two
numbers that average out to n (i.e. n + k and n k). Multiply those two numbers and add the square of k.

Examples:
232 = (26 x 20) + 32 = 529
972 = (100 x 94) + 32 = 9409
Why?
a2 b2 = (a+b)(a-b)
a2 = (a+b)(a-b) + b2
If this special product doesnt look familiar to you, write it down right now and memorize it because there
are a plethora of GMAT questions that test you on this very concept. But for this special trick, you are
(once again) trading a difficult calculation (23 x 23) for a few simpler ones.
232 32 = (23+3)(23-3)
232 32 = (26)(20)
232 = (26)(20) + 32
232 = 529
Since multiplying by multiples of ten are usually easier than non-multiples of ten, you find the nearest
multiple of ten. While this may be very confusing at first, its a neat trick if you can get quick with it and is
especially helpful when squaring numbers ending in five, since you will always add 25 to the lower and
higher multiple of 10:

2
2
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452 = (40 x 50) + 52 = 2025

652 = (60 x 70) + 52 = 4225

5. Estimate Root 2 & Root 3

2 1.4
3 1.7
Example:
The length of some side of a figure is about equal to 13 and you are down to the following three options:
(A) 9 2
(B) 9 / 2
(C) 15 * (1 1/2)
By estimating 2 1.4 or even 3/2, you could quickly recognize that only answer (A) could be correct
in this problem.
Why?
Because your calculator says so! But rather than trying to remember these two roots on test day,
remember your two favorite holidays in the second and third months of the year- Valentines Day & St.
Patricks Day, 2/14 and 3/17. Root of 2 is about 1.4 and Root of 3 is about 1.7. The above example is
adapted from an old Official Guide problem and is a reminder of how the GMATs wrong answer choices
arent there because they are close to correct value, but because they are some incorrect computational
jumble of the numbers given in the problem. If you can estimate in this problem, you can find four incorrect
answer choices and thats just as good as finding one correct answer.
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Joe Lucero
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Joe Lucero has both a Biology degree and a Master of Education from the University
of Notre Dame. He also has a 780 on his GMAT. In the fall, you will find Joe in a much
better mood during weeks after the Fighting Irish win their football game. During the
rest of the year, you will find him looking for new places to travel, reading almost anything non-fiction,
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