https://www.cut-the-knot.org/arithmetic/rapid/Specifics/ProductApBe10.

shtml

Fast Arithmetic Tips

Mental Calculations - Getting the result fast

1. Addition of 5
When adding 5 to a digit greater than 5, it is easier to first subtract 5 and then add 10.
For example,
7 + 5 = 12.
Also 7 - 5 = 2; 2 + 10 = 12.

2. Subtraction of 5
When subtracting 5 from a number ending with a a digit smaller than 5, it is easier to first
add 5 and then subtract 10.
For example,
23 - 5 = 18.
Also 23 + 5 = 28; 28 - 10 = 18.

3. Division by 5
Similarly, it's often more convenient instead to multiply first by 2 and then divide by 10.
For example,
1375/5 = 2750/10 = 275.
More examples and explanation

4. Multiplication by 5
It's often more convenient instead of multiplying by 5 to multiply first by 10 and then
divide by 2.
For example,
137×5 = 1370/2 = 685.
More examples and explanation

5. Division by 5
Similarly, it's often more convenient instead to multiply first by 2 and then divide by 10.
For example,
1375/5 = 2750/10 = 275.
More examples and explanation
6. Division/multiplication by 4
Replace either with a repeated operation by 2.
For example,
124/4 = 62/2 = 31. Also,
124×4 = 248×2 = 496.

7. Division/multiplication by 25
Use operations with 4 instead.
For example,
37×25 = 3700/4 = 1850/2 = 925.
More examples and explanation

8. Division/multiplication by 8
Replace either with a repeated operation by 2.
For example,
124×8 = 248×4 = 496×2 = 992.

9. Division/multiplication by 125
Use operations with 8 instead.
For example,
37×125 = 37000/8 = 18500/4 = 9250/2 = 4625.

10. Squaring two digit numbers.

i. You should memorize the first 25 squares:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
1 4 9 16 25 36 49 64 81 100 121 144 169 196
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
225 256 289 324 361 400 441 484 529 576 625
ii. If you forgot an entry.
Say, you want a square of 13. Do this: add 3 (the last digit) to 13 (the number to
be squared) to get 16 = 13 + 3. Square the last digit: 3² = 9. Append the result to
the sum: 169.
As another example, find 14². First, as before, add the last digit (4) to the number
itself (14) to get 18 = 14 + 4. Next, again as before, square the last digit: 4² =
16. You'd like to append the result (16) to the sum (18) getting 1816 which is
clearly too large, for, say, 14 < 20 so that 14² < 20² = 400. What you have to do is
append 6 and carry 1 to the previous digit (8) making 14² = 196.
More examples and explanation
 iii. Squares of numbers from 26 through 50.
Let A be such a number. Subtract 25 from A to get x. Subtract x from 25 to get,
say, a. ThenA² = a² + 100x. For example, if A = 26, then x = 1 and a = 24. Hence
26² = 24² + 100 = 676.
More examples and explanation
iv. Squares of numbers from 51 through 99.
If A is between 50 and 100, then A = 50 + x. Compute a = 50 - x. Then A² = a² +
200x. For example,
63² = 37² + 200×13 = 1369 + 2600 = 3969.
More examples and explanation

11. Any Square.

Assume you want to find 87². Find a simple number nearby - a number whose square
could be found relatively easy. In the case of 87 we take 90. To obtain 90, we need to add
3 to 87; so now let's subtract 3 from 87. We are getting 84. Finally,

87² = 90×84 + 3² = 7200 + 360 + 9 = 7569.

More examples and explanation

12. Squares Can Be Computed Squentially

In case A is a successor of a number with a known square, you find A⊃ by adding to the
latter itself and then A. For example, A = 111 is a successor of a = 110 whose square is
12100. Added to this 110 and then 111 to get A²:
111² = 110² + 110 + 111
= 12100 + 221
= 12321.
13. More examples and explanation
14. Squares of numbers that end with 5.
A number that ends in 5 has the form A = 10a + 5, where a has one digit less than A. To
find the square A² of A, append 25 to the product a×(a + 1) of a with its successor. For
example, compute 115². 115 = 11×10 + 5, so that a = 11. First compute 11×(11 + 1) =
11×12 = 132 (since 3 = 1 + 2). Next, append 25 to the right of 132 to get 13225!
More examples and explanation

15. Product of 10a + b and 10a + c where b + c = 10.

Similar to the squaring of numbers that end with 5:
For example, compute 113×117, where a = 11, b = 3, and c = 7. First compute 11×(11 +
1) = 11×12 = 132 (since 3 = 1 + 2). Next, append 21 (= 3×7) to the right of 132 to get
13221!
More examples and explanation
16. Product of two one-digit numbers greater than 5.
This is a rule that helps remember a big part of the multiplication table. Assume you
forgot the product 7×9. Do this. First find the excess of each of the multiples over 5: it's 2
for 7 (7 - 5 = 2) and 4 for 9 (9 - 5 = 4). Add them up to get 6 = 2 + 4. Now find the
complements of these two numbers to 5: it's 3 for 2 (5 - 2 = 3) and 1 for 4 (5 - 4 =
1). Remember their product 3 = 3×1. Lastly, combine thus obtained two numbers (6 and
3) as 63 = 6×10 + 3.
More examples and explanation

17. Product of two 2-digit numbers.

The simplest case is when two numbers are not too far apart and their difference is even,
for example, let one be 24 and the other 28. Find their average: (24 + 28)/2 = 26 and half
the difference (28 - 24)/2 = 2. Subtract the squares:
28×24 = 26² - 2² = 676 - 4 = 672.
The ancient Babylonian used a similar approach. They calculated the sum and the
difference of the two numbers, subtracted their squares and divided the result by four. For
example,
33×32 = (65² - 1²)/4
= (4225 - 1)/4
= 4224/4
= 1056.
More examples and explanation

18. Product of numbers close to 100.

Say, you have to multiply 94 and 98. Take their differences to 100: 100 - 94 = 6 and 100
- 98 = 2. Note that 94 - 2 = 98 - 6 so that for the next step it is not important which one
you use, but you'll need the result: 92. These will be the first two digits of the product.
The last two are just 2×6 = 12. Therefore, 94×98 = 9212.
More examples and explanation

19. Multiplying by 11.

To multiply a 2-digit number by 11, take the sum of its digits. If it's a single digit number,
just write it between the two digits. If the sum is 10 or more, do not forget to carry 1 over.

For example, 34×11 = 374 since 3 + 4 = 7. 47×11 = 517 since 4 + 7 = 11.

20. Faster subtraction.

Subtraction is often faster in two steps instead of one.

For example,
 427 - 38 = (427 - 27) - (38 - 27) = 400 - 11 = 389.
A generic advice might be given as "First remove what's easy, next whatever remains".
Another example:
1049 - 187 = 1000 - (187 - 49) = 900 - 38 = 862.

21. Faster addition.

Addition is often faster in two steps instead of one.

For example,
487 + 38 = (487 + 13) + (38 - 13) = 500 + 25 = 525.
A generic advice might be given as "First add what's easy, next whatever remains".
Another example:
1049 + 187 = 1100 + (187 - 51) = 1200 + 36 = 1236.

22. Faster addition, #2.

It's often faster to add a digit at a time starting with higher digits. For example,
583 + 645 = 583 + 600 + 40 + 5
= 1183 + 40 + 5
= 1223 + 5
= 1228.

23. Multipliply, then subtract.

When multiplying by 9, multiply by 10 instead, and then subtract the other number. For
example,
23×9 = 230 - 23 = 207.
More examples and explanation
The same applies to other numbers near those for which multiplication is simplified:
23×51 = 23×50 + 23
= 2300/2 + 23
= 1150 + 23
= 1173.

87×48 = 87×50 - 87×2

= 8700/2 - 160 - 14
= 4350 - 160 - 14
= 4190 - 14
= 4176.
 24. Multiplication by 9, 99, 999, etc.
There is another way to multiply fast by 9 that has an analogue for multiplication by 99,
999 and all such numbers. Let's start with the multiplication by 9.

To multiply a one digit number a by 9, first subtract 1 and form b = a - 1. Next,

subtract b from 9: c = 9 - b. Then just write b and c next to each other:
9a = bc.
For example, find 6×9 (so that a = 6.) First subtract: 5 = 6 - 1. Subract the second time: 4
= 9 - 5. Lastly, form the product 6×9 = 54.
Similarly, for a 2-digit a:
bc = 100b + c
= 100(a - 1) + (99 - (a - 1))
= 100a - 100 + 100 - a
= 99a.
Do try the same derivation for a three digit number. As an example,
543×999 = 1000×542 + (999 - 542)
= 542457.
More examples and explanation

25. Adding a Long List of Numbers

How fast can you calculate the sum

97 + 86 + 83 + 95 + 85 + 70 + 84 + 72 + 77 + 81 + 70 + 85 + 84 + 76 + 92 + 66?
This page shows how to do that fast and with little effort.

Related material
Read more...
A Broken Calculator Has Its Uses
Defensive Tips for Mental Arithmetic
Stunning Friends With Math Magic
Divisibility Criteria
Abacus and Its Relatives

References

1. A. Benjamin and M. Shermer, Secrets of Mental Math, Three Rivers Press, 2006.
2. A. Benjamin and M. Shermer, Mathemagics, Lowell House, 1993
3. M. Gardner, Mathematical Carnival, Vintage Books, 1977.
 4. E. H. Julius, Rapid Math Tricks And Tips, John Wiley & Sons, 1992
5. E. H. Julius, More Rapid Math Tricks And Tips, John Wiley & Sons, 1992
6. S. Flansburg, Math Magic, William Morrow and Co, NY, 1993
7. S. Flansburg, Math Magic for Your Kids, Harper Paperbacks, 1998

|Contact| |Front page| |Contents| |Algebra| |Math magic|

Copyright © 1996-2017 Alexander Bogomolny

62680283

===================
Adding a Long List of Numbers

For some people, adding a list of not very different numbers is a frequent task. To me this
happens every time I fill my tax returns; there is always a few dozen professional books I buy
over a year that I consider deductible. Of course, it is possible to use a spreadsheet or a
specialized application, but I am accustomed to doing this the old fashioned way. Using a
calculator is far from being fool proof; an innocent typo may flash a red light during an audit.
Teachers who have to compute test grade averages might also find the technique useful.
So assume we need to compute the sum of 16 numbers:
97 + 86 + 83 + 95 + 85 + 70 + 84 + 72 + 77 + 81 + 70 + 85 + 84 + 76 + 92 + 66.
Estimate a possible average of the numbers in the sum. For the given example, I'd choose 80.
Instead of adding the given numbers, we shall add the differences of these numbers and the
chosen average estimate:
17 + 6 + 3 + 15 + 5 + (-10) + 4 + (-8) + (-3) + 1 + (-10) + 5 + 4 + (-4) + 12 + (-14).
At a glance, you can see that, say, 15 + 5 cancels (-10) + (-10), and 4 cancels (-4), leaving a
shorter sum
17 + 6 + 3 + 4 + (-8) + (-3) + 1 + 5 + 12 + (-14) = 30 + (-11) + 18 + (-14) = 19 + 4 = 23.
The "dropped" part of the original sum is 80·16 = 800 + 480 = 1280, making the total 1280 + 23
= 1303.
The trick here is to avoid dealing with large accumulations and a need to memorize intermediate
results. Always scan the sums for possible cancellations. For example, in the last sum we may
have noticed that 3 and (-3) cancel out and so do 3 + 5 and (-8). Taking into account the latter we
would get a shorter sum
17 + 6 + 4 + (-3) + 1 + 12 + (-14),
in which it is hard to fail to notice that 17 and (-3) + (-14) also cancel out
17 + 6 + 4 + (-3) + 1 + 12 + (-14) = 6 + 4 + 1 + 12 = 10 + 13 = 23.
With a little practice, such shortcuts pop into view automatically.

References
 1. Shai Simonson, Rediscovering Mathematics: You Do the Math, MAA, 2011, p. 13

Related material
Read more...
Multiplication by 9, 99, 999, (Multiply + Subtract) etc.
Squaring 2-Digit Numbers
Division by 5
Multiplication by 2
Multiplication by 5
Multiplication by 9, 99, 999, etc. (Something Special)
Product of 10a + b and 10a + c where b + c = 10
Product of numbers close to 100
Product of two one-digit numbers greater than 5
Product of 2-digit numbers
Squaring Numbers in Range 26-50
Squaring Numbers in Range 51-100
Squares of Numbers That End in 5
Squares Can Be Computed Squentially
How to Compute Fast Any Square

|Contact| |Front page| |Contents| |Algebra| |Rapid math|

Copyright © 1996-2017 Alexander Bogomolny

62680767

========================

Multiplication by 9, 99, 999, etc.

One way to multiply a number by 9 is to multiply by 10 and then subtract the number from the
product. There is another way to multiply fast by 9 and as the first one it has an analogue for
multiplication by 99, 999 and all such numbers. Let's start with the multiplication by 9.
To multiply a one digit number a by 9, first subtract 1 and form b = a - 1. Next, subtract b from
9: c = 9 - b. Then just write b and c next to each other:
9a = bc.
For example, find 6×9 (so that a = 6.) First subtract: 5 = 6 - 1. Subract the second time: 4 = 9 -
5. Lastly, form the product 6×9 = 54.
Next, find 37×99. First, subtract 1: 36 = 37 - 1. Then subtract 63 = 99 - 36. Lastly, form the
product: 37×99 = 3663.
Why does this work? For the multiplication by 9, bc = 10b + c:
bc = 10b + c
= 10(a - 1) + (9 - (a - 1))
= 10a - 10 + 10 - a
= 9a,
as required. Similarly, for a 2-digit a:
bc = 100b + c
= 100(a - 1) + (99 - (a - 1))
= 100a - 100 + 100 - a
= 99a.
Do try the same derivation for a three digit number. As an example,
543×999 = 1000×542 + (999 - 542)
= 999×542 + 999
= 999×543
just by using the distributive law twice.

Related material
Read more...
Multiplication by 9, 99, 999, (Multiply + Subtract) etc.
Squaring 2-Digit Numbers
Division by 5
Multiplication by 2
Multiplication by 5
Multiplication by 9, 99, 999, etc. (Something Special)
Product of 10a + b and 10a + c where b + c = 10
Product of numbers close to 100
Product of two one-digit numbers greater than 5
Product of 2-digit numbers
Squaring Numbers in Range 26-50
Squaring Numbers in Range 51-100
Squares of Numbers That End in 5
Squares Can Be Computed Squentially
How to Compute Fast Any Square
Adding a Long List of Numbers
 |Contact| |Front page| |Contents| |Algebra| |Math magic|

Copyright © 1996-2017 Alexander Bogomolny

62680770
================================
Fast Arithmetic Tips
Mental Calculations - Getting the result fast

1. Addition of 5
When adding 5 to a digit greater than 5, it is easier to first subtract 5 and then add 10.
For example,
7 + 5 = 12.
Also 7 - 5 = 2; 2 + 10 = 12.

2. Subtraction of 5
When subtracting 5 from a number ending with a a digit smaller than 5, it is easier to first
add 5 and then subtract 10.
For example,
23 - 5 = 18.
Also 23 + 5 = 28; 28 - 10 = 18.

3. Division by 5
Similarly, it's often more convenient instead to multiply first by 2 and then divide by 10.
For example,
1375/5 = 2750/10 = 275.
More examples and explanation

4. Multiplication by 5
It's often more convenient instead of multiplying by 5 to multiply first by 10 and then
divide by 2.
For example,
137×5 = 1370/2 = 685.
More examples and explanation

5. Division by 5
Similarly, it's often more convenient instead to multiply first by 2 and then divide by 10.
For example,
1375/5 = 2750/10 = 275.
More examples and explanation
6. Division/multiplication by 4
Replace either with a repeated operation by 2.
For example,
124/4 = 62/2 = 31. Also,
124×4 = 248×2 = 496.

7. Division/multiplication by 25
Use operations with 4 instead.
For example,
37×25 = 3700/4 = 1850/2 = 925.
More examples and explanation

8. Division/multiplication by 8
Replace either with a repeated operation by 2.
For example,
124×8 = 248×4 = 496×2 = 992.

9. Division/multiplication by 125
Use operations with 8 instead.
For example,
37×125 = 37000/8 = 18500/4 = 9250/2 = 4625.

10. Squaring two digit numbers.

i. You should memorize the first 25 squares:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
1 4 9 16 25 36 49 64 81 100 121 144 169 196
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
225 256 289 324 361 400 441 484 529 576 625
ii. If you forgot an entry.
Say, you want a square of 13. Do this: add 3 (the last digit) to 13 (the number to
be squared) to get 16 = 13 + 3. Square the last digit: 3² = 9. Append the result to
the sum: 169.
As another example, find 14². First, as before, add the last digit (4) to the number
itself (14) to get 18 = 14 + 4. Next, again as before, square the last digit: 4² =
16. You'd like to append the result (16) to the sum (18) getting 1816 which is
clearly too large, for, say, 14 < 20 so that 14² < 20² = 400. What you have to do is
append 6 and carry 1 to the previous digit (8) making 14² = 196.
More examples and explanation
 iii. Squares of numbers from 26 through 50.
Let A be such a number. Subtract 25 from A to get x. Subtract x from 25 to get,
say, a. ThenA² = a² + 100x. For example, if A = 26, then x = 1 and a = 24. Hence
26² = 24² + 100 = 676.
More examples and explanation
iv. Squares of numbers from 51 through 99.
If A is between 50 and 100, then A = 50 + x. Compute a = 50 - x. Then A² = a² +
200x. For example,
63² = 37² + 200×13 = 1369 + 2600 = 3969.
More examples and explanation

11. Any Square.

Assume you want to find 87². Find a simple number nearby - a number whose square
could be found relatively easy. In the case of 87 we take 90. To obtain 90, we need to add
3 to 87; so now let's subtract 3 from 87. We are getting 84. Finally,

87² = 90×84 + 3² = 7200 + 360 + 9 = 7569.

More examples and explanation

12. Squares Can Be Computed Squentially

In case A is a successor of a number with a known square, you find A⊃ by adding to the
latter itself and then A. For example, A = 111 is a successor of a = 110 whose square is
12100. Added to this 110 and then 111 to get A²:
111² = 110² + 110 + 111
= 12100 + 221
= 12321.
13. More examples and explanation
14. Squares of numbers that end with 5.
A number that ends in 5 has the form A = 10a + 5, where a has one digit less than A. To
find the square A² of A, append 25 to the product a×(a + 1) of a with its successor. For
example, compute 115². 115 = 11×10 + 5, so that a = 11. First compute 11×(11 + 1) =
11×12 = 132 (since 3 = 1 + 2). Next, append 25 to the right of 132 to get 13225!
More examples and explanation

15. Product of 10a + b and 10a + c where b + c = 10.

Similar to the squaring of numbers that end with 5:
For example, compute 113×117, where a = 11, b = 3, and c = 7. First compute 11×(11 +
1) = 11×12 = 132 (since 3 = 1 + 2). Next, append 21 (= 3×7) to the right of 132 to get
13221!
More examples and explanation
16. Product of two one-digit numbers greater than 5.
This is a rule that helps remember a big part of the multiplication table. Assume you
forgot the product 7×9. Do this. First find the excess of each of the multiples over 5: it's 2
for 7 (7 - 5 = 2) and 4 for 9 (9 - 5 = 4). Add them up to get 6 = 2 + 4. Now find the
complements of these two numbers to 5: it's 3 for 2 (5 - 2 = 3) and 1 for 4 (5 - 4 =
1). Remember their product 3 = 3×1. Lastly, combine thus obtained two numbers (6 and
3) as 63 = 6×10 + 3.
More examples and explanation

17. Product of two 2-digit numbers.

The simplest case is when two numbers are not too far apart and their difference is even,
for example, let one be 24 and the other 28. Find their average: (24 + 28)/2 = 26 and half
the difference (28 - 24)/2 = 2. Subtract the squares:
28×24 = 26² - 2² = 676 - 4 = 672.
The ancient Babylonian used a similar approach. They calculated the sum and the
difference of the two numbers, subtracted their squares and divided the result by four. For
example,
33×32 = (65² - 1²)/4
= (4225 - 1)/4
= 4224/4
= 1056.
More examples and explanation

18. Product of numbers close to 100.

Say, you have to multiply 94 and 98. Take their differences to 100: 100 - 94 = 6 and 100
- 98 = 2. Note that 94 - 2 = 98 - 6 so that for the next step it is not important which one
you use, but you'll need the result: 92. These will be the first two digits of the product.
The last two are just 2×6 = 12. Therefore, 94×98 = 9212.
More examples and explanation

19. Multiplying by 11.

To multiply a 2-digit number by 11, take the sum of its digits. If it's a single digit number,
just write it between the two digits. If the sum is 10 or more, do not forget to carry 1 over.

For example, 34×11 = 374 since 3 + 4 = 7. 47×11 = 517 since 4 + 7 = 11.

20. Faster subtraction.

Subtraction is often faster in two steps instead of one.

For example,
 427 - 38 = (427 - 27) - (38 - 27) = 400 - 11 = 389.
A generic advice might be given as "First remove what's easy, next whatever remains".
Another example:
1049 - 187 = 1000 - (187 - 49) = 900 - 38 = 862.

21. Faster addition.

Addition is often faster in two steps instead of one.

For example,
487 + 38 = (487 + 13) + (38 - 13) = 500 + 25 = 525.
A generic advice might be given as "First add what's easy, next whatever remains".
Another example:
1049 + 187 = 1100 + (187 - 51) = 1200 + 36 = 1236.

22. Faster addition, #2.

It's often faster to add a digit at a time starting with higher digits. For example,
583 + 645 = 583 + 600 + 40 + 5
= 1183 + 40 + 5
= 1223 + 5
= 1228.

23. Multipliply, then subtract.

When multiplying by 9, multiply by 10 instead, and then subtract the other number. For
example,
23×9 = 230 - 23 = 207.
More examples and explanation
The same applies to other numbers near those for which multiplication is simplified:
23×51 = 23×50 + 23
= 2300/2 + 23
= 1150 + 23
= 1173.

87×48 = 87×50 - 87×2

= 8700/2 - 160 - 14
= 4350 - 160 - 14
= 4190 - 14
= 4176.
 24. Multiplication by 9, 99, 999, etc.
There is another way to multiply fast by 9 that has an analogue for multiplication by 99,
999 and all such numbers. Let's start with the multiplication by 9.

To multiply a one digit number a by 9, first subtract 1 and form b = a - 1. Next,

subtract b from 9: c = 9 - b. Then just write b and c next to each other:
9a = bc.
For example, find 6×9 (so that a = 6.) First subtract: 5 = 6 - 1. Subract the second time: 4
= 9 - 5. Lastly, form the product 6×9 = 54.
Similarly, for a 2-digit a:
bc = 100b + c
= 100(a - 1) + (99 - (a - 1))
= 100a - 100 + 100 - a
= 99a.
Do try the same derivation for a three digit number. As an example,
543×999 = 1000×542 + (999 - 542)
= 542457.
More examples and explanation

25. Adding a Long List of Numbers

How fast can you calculate the sum

97 + 86 + 83 + 95 + 85 + 70 + 84 + 72 + 77 + 81 + 70 + 85 + 84 + 76 + 92 + 66?
This page shows how to do that fast and with little effort.

Related material
Read more...
A Broken Calculator Has Its Uses
Defensive Tips for Mental Arithmetic
Stunning Friends With Math Magic
Divisibility Criteria
Abacus and Its Relatives

References

1. A. Benjamin and M. Shermer, Secrets of Mental Math, Three Rivers Press, 2006.
2. A. Benjamin and M. Shermer, Mathemagics, Lowell House, 1993
3. M. Gardner, Mathematical Carnival, Vintage Books, 1977.
 4. E. H. Julius, Rapid Math Tricks And Tips, John Wiley & Sons, 1992
5. E. H. Julius, More Rapid Math Tricks And Tips, John Wiley & Sons, 1992
6. S. Flansburg, Math Magic, William Morrow and Co, NY, 1993
7. S. Flansburg, Math Magic for Your Kids, Harper Paperbacks, 1998

|Contact| |Front page| |Contents| |Algebra| |Math magic|

Copyright © 1996-2017 Alexander Bogomolny

62680781

********************************
Login/Register

Math Worksheets, Activities, Games Helpline +91 96026 43065

Home BrainX Mathaly Math Games About Us

+ Browse by Category
9 fast math tricks to supercharge your calculations
Just mention of Math means trouble and tension for some people, especially kids. Here we bring
9 fast math tricks to really speed up your arithmetic calculations. Knowledge of these math tricks
will help you do calculations in your head really fast and more importantly, reduce your fear of
math. But most of the math is about practice. So in the article, we have also shared links some
really cool practice resources that you can use.

So let us get out our magic stick and pull out some fast math from our math hat. The speed with
which you will be able to perform will seem nothing short of magic to others.

Fast math trick 1: Power multiplication or square of a number that ends in 5

Here the speed would really amaze you. Try finding the square of 85 in your head. How much
time did it take you? Now try this fast math trick here.
1. Ignore 5 in the units place
2. Take the digit in the tens place i.e. 8 and multiply it with its successor i.e. 8+1 = 9. The result
is 72
3. Simply place 25 at the end of the result i.e. 7225. Thats it. 7225 is the square of 85. That is
your answer.
Wasn't that fast math trick? This math trick can be used anytime you have to find square of a
number ending in 5. It works with 3 digit numbers too. So the square of 135 is ..... first
multiply 13 with its successor i.e. 14 = 182. Now add 25 at the end. Your answer is 18225.
Speed in multiplication is all about knowing multiplication tables and facts. Try
this multiplication board game to master tables. In our tests with school students, it has proven to
be very effective in improving practice and building recall.

Fast math trick 2: Multiplying with 11

How do you multiply a number with 11? Let us take an example. Say you have to multiply 35
with 11. Just follow these 3 steps given below.
1. Write 35 as 3( )5 (where ( ) is a space for a new digit that will be inserted in the middle)
2. Find the middle digit as 3 (3+5) 5. The middle digit is the sum of first 2 digits
3. The number is 385. As simple and as fast as that.

But what if the sum of first 2 digits if more than 9 i.e. a 2 digit number? Let us take an example
again. Say the number is 59 that has to multiplied with 11
o Write 59 as 5( )9
o Find the middle digit as 5(5+9)9 = 5(14)9. Since the middle digit is not actually a digit but a 2
digit number, so add 10 to first digit and retain 4 in the middle
o The number is 5+1 (4) 9 = 649. As fast as that

Fast math trick 3: Multiplying with 5

To multiply any number with 5 is same as multiplying it with 10 and dividing it by 2. Right? We
can use this rule to speed up our multiplication with 5. So here is the trick. Say you want to
multiply 236 with 5.
1. Divide the number by 2 i.e. 118
2. Now add 0 at the end. The answer is 1180

Was that fast math or what! But wait, what if the answer is in decimal? The rule still holds. Try
and multiply 1305 with 5
1. Divide the number by 2 i.e. 652.5
2. Now multiply it by 10 i.e. 6525. This is same as adding a 0 at the end or moving a decimal
point one step to the right.
 Fast math trick 4: Multiplying with 9

Suppose you want to multiply a number by 9, is there a fast way? Well, there is something that
will help when you are dealing with large numbers and especially if you are fast with
subtraction. Say you have to multiply 81 with 9.
1. At 0 at the end of the number i.e. 810
2. Subtract original number from the new number i.e. 810 - 81 = 729

This rule works every time. The only thing is that it gets a little cumbersome when you are
dealing with mid sized numbers say a 4 digit number or so. But this math trick will still make
multiplication with 9 faster and less error prone for most of us. So that was our fast math trick for
multiplication with 9

Tricks are OK and they help. But the main focus should be practice. Practice these math
techniques till numbers begin to pop out of your head, something like the image below. The
more you practice, the faster you get and more interested you get.

Fast math trick 5: Multiplying with 25

What if you have you to multiply a two digit number with 25. Say you have to multiply 57 with
25. Can you do the math fast? Can you do it in your head without reaching out for a pen and
paper? We teach you the fast math trick to do this calculation in your head
1. Add two 0 at the end of the number i.e. 5700
2. Now find the half of this number i.e. divide it by 2. So you get 2850
3. Divide it again by 2 i.e. get its half. 1425. This is your answer. i.e. 1425 is the product of 57
and 25. Don't believe me, check your calculator.

This will work for large numbers too and will be as effective. So try it with 185. Find the product
of 185 and 25
1. Add two 0s at the end. So 18500
2. Now divide it by 2. So you get 9250
3. Divide it again by 2. So you get 4625. That is your answer.

Quick and can be easily done in your head. So that was another fast math trick. Hungry to find
more ways to speed up your arithmetic calculations? Keep reading.

Fast math trick 6: Divide by 5

Enough of multiplication tricks. What if you have to divide by 5. Say you want to divide 565 by
5. Just follow this 2 step math trick.
1. Double the number i.e. multiply it by 2. So you get 1130
2. Now move decimal point one step to the left i.e. reduce one 0. So the answer is 113.
This works with any number, even decimal numbers. So try it with 142.3
1. Double up the number. So you get 284.6
2. Now move the decimal point to the left by 1 position. So you get 28.46. That is your answer
One of the ways to boost your calculations is to boost your familiarity with numbers. Again, a
good fun way we found was this math strategy game that was sent to us for trial. The game
involved a lot of thinking. Though makers say that it should be age 7 and up, we recommend it
for 9 years to adults. If you like thinking games, this is one that you should try.

Fast math trick 7: Subtracting from 1000

What if you have to subtract a number from 1000? Say the number is 739. There are a lot of
carry overs involved and so it is not really that easy to do it in your head. But may be this nifty
little math trick will help to speed up your calculations and accuracy. Try and tell me if it was
fast for you.
1. Subtract the digits in units position from 10 and subtract the digit in hundred's position from
9. That is your answer. So here we have 9-7, 9-3, 10-9. So the answer is 261. That is it. This
is only one step.

So that was fast, one step subtraction trick. This, math trick for subtraction works for any number
like 10, 100, 1000, 10000, 100000 and so on. Just subtract all the digits from 10 and the last digit
i.e. the digit with largest place value from 9. That is your answer.

Fast math trick 8: Multiplying by 15

What is 15? Remember, 15 is 10 + half of 10. So if you to have to multiply any number with 15,
this trick or simple math rule will help improve your arithmetic computation speed. Say you have
to find the product of 67 with 15.
1. Write 0 at the end of the number. Here we have 670
2. Divide this by 2. So we have 335
3. Add up the 2 numbers i.e. 335+670 = 1005

Fast math trick 9: Fast addition of 2 digit numbers

What if you have to add 67 and 24. Can you do it in your head? Can you do it fast? Try this
arithmetic trick and see if it helps in your calculations.
1. Add the numbers in the TENs place. i.e. 6+2 = 8
2. Now bring one of the numbers in the UNITs place behind 8. Say we bring in 7. So your
number is 87.
3. Now count up from 87 by 4 i.e. the other number in the UNIT's place. So you up 4 places
from 87 i.e. 88, 89, 90 and 91. 91 is your answer.
Let us try this again. Add 75 and 89.
1. Add the numbers in the TENs place. We get 7+8 = 15
2. Bring in one of the numbers in the UNITs place. We get 159.
3. Count up 5 places from 159. So the answer is 160, 161, 162, 163 and 164. Your answer is
164.
This trick is especially helpful for young kids who are learning 2 digit addition in their class. It
will help them do their math a lot quicker and hence get them more interested in math. Again,
the most reliable and generic way to boost addition is to practice more mental calculations. We
found this really amazing addition game. In one game session, we practiced about 60-75 addition
problems and it was a huge amount of fun for us and the kids.

The thing to know and understand is that these 'tricks' are really nothing but application of basic
mathematical rules. For example, multiplication with 9 is like multiplication by (10-1) which
means multiply by 10 and subtract the number from itself etc. If you have some more math tricks
up your sleeve, you can share them below. We will include the best ones in this blog with your
name in it. Who knows, it might help a lot of people do their math faster and better. Ultimately,
the secret to fast math is practice. Practice your math skills, avoid using calculators and you will
see your skills improve.

If you liked what you read, please share this article on twitter / face book / ... and help others
benefit from the same.

30
Related posts
o 5 super cool math games for kids
o Grade 2 Math Worksheets: Printable worksheet for 2nd grade maths students
o Grade 3 Math Worksheets: Printable worksheet for 3rd grade maths students
o Grade 4 Math Worksheets: Printable worksheet for 4th grade maths students
o 5th grade math worksheets to develop REAL math skills
------------------------------------ ********************** =================