- 30 Aug, 2024
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7 Clever Tricks to Improve Mental Math Skills in Kids
In today’s educational landscape, parents are often faced with the challenge of prioritizing the numerous skills their children need to acquire. Is Mental Math Skill still relevant in this digital world? It is a resounding yes! Improving Mental Math skills in kids extends far beyond merely improving mathematical performance. It forms a crucial foundation for success across various academic disciplines, including science, art, and music.
Let me share 7 clever tricks to improve mental math skills in kids. Let’s remember that our goal is to instill confidence and computational fluency in our children and not to replace computers or calculators.
7 Clever Tricks to Improve Mental Math Skills in Kids
1. The Round-Up Method
Let’s start with a very simple trick for adding 9 to any number. Simply add 10 and then subtract 1.
For instance, to add 9 to 19, add 10 to 19 (which equals 29) and then subtract 1, resulting in 29 – 1 = 28. This logic can be extended to adding other numbers as well.
Let’s consider adding 49 and 33 mentally. First, we can round 49 up to 50 (adding 1). Then, subtract that 1 from 33, giving us 32, which makes adding 50 and 32 easier, resulting in 50 + 32 = 82.
2. The Twin Number Tactic
The near-doubling method is a quick way to solve math problems with similar numbers.
For example, if we want to solve 23 + 24, instead of breaking it down into 20+20 and 3+4, we can just double 23 to get 46 and then add 1 to reach the answer of 47. This method is useful when dealing with numbers close to each other, as it reduces the complexity of the problem and makes calculations faster.
3. The Five Times Fast Track
To find 5 times any number, first multiply that number by 10, then take half of the result. For example, to calculate 7 multiplied by 5, first multiply 7 by 10 to get 70, then take half of 70, which will be 35. This technique works for larger numbers as well and can be a helpful trick for kids to improve their mental multiplication skills.
4. The Break It Down Trick
This tip for multiplication involves splitting the bigger number into parts and then multiplying.
To calculate 4 multiplied by 87 mentally, let’s begin by splitting the bigger number, 87 ( which is 80 and 7). We then multiply 4 × 80 and 4 × 7 and add the results. We get 320 + 28 = 348.
5. The Double-Double Method
To find four times a number, double that number twice. For example, what is 4 × 23? First find double 23, which is 46. Then double that, and you get 92.
Similarly, eight times a number means doubling three times. As an example, to find 8 × 14 means doubling 14 to get 28, doubling 28 to get 56, and (once more) doubling 56 to get 112.
6. Rapid Eleven Multiplication
Multiplying by 11 may seem difficult, but there’s a simple trick to remember it!
For example, to calculate 24 × 11, let us follow the below steps:
1. We start with the original number (24).
2. We add the digits (2 + 4 = 6).
3. We place the sum (6) between the original digits (2 and 4), giving us 264. So, 24 × 11 equals 264.
7. The Point Move Magic
Calculating a 10% discount on a product price is a common mental math problem while shopping.
Here’s an easy trick to quickly estimate this discount:
To calculate a 10% discount amount, move the decimal point one place to the left in the product’s price.
For example, a product priced at ₹250 would have a discount of ₹25, and an item costing ₹1,500 would have a discount of ₹150.
To quickly estimate a 15% discount on a product, let us use a two-step mental math trick:
First, calculate 10% by moving the decimal point one place to the left.
Then, take half of that 10% amount and add it to the result.
For example, let’s say a product costs ₹800:
10% of ₹800 is ₹80 (move the decimal point left)
Half of ₹80 is ₹40
₹80 + ₹40 = ₹120
So, the 15% discount on a ₹800 item would be ₹120.
This method works for any price and provides a quick way to estimate discounts while shopping.
Math Mastery through play
When presenting math in a fun and engaging way, children see it more like a game rather than something dull. Practicing mental math tricks helps kids take numbers apart and put them together in different ways to solve problems and do calculations. It’s like a fun puzzle game, but with numbers!
Improving mental math skills in kids starts by ensuring they have a strong grasp of basic math facts – an essential life skill. Try making practice enjoyable with fun online games or flashcards.
https://www.cokogames.com/mental-calculation-mini-games/
Board games are an interesting way to strengthen mental math skills in kids.
7 Board Games To Build Math Skills
You can also turn skip counting into a family game during travel, which is not only fun but also a surefire way to improve mental math skills in kids!
Here is a more exciting way to Improve Mental Math Skills in kids – Discover how our experts at eduSeed can transform your child’s math skills with our customized curriculum. Take the first step and register your interest in our Math Program today!
