Maths is a scary discipline with all kinds of ominous-sounding words. As a math student, you'll learn theories, algebraic formulae, geometry, and solving equations with multiple variables.
Sometimes it seems maths is a minefield designed to trap you into a world where you make mistakes all the time.
A lot of people dislike maths not because it's an ungracious discipline but because they struggle with mental arithmetic. Some go so far as to proclaim themselves maths averse, refusing any attempt to master this vital life skill.
For them, budgeting and financial planning is best left to others. At best, they might use a calculator for everything.
That does them a disservice, especially as there are many tricks for improving your maths skills. Easy tricks for doing addition and subtraction in their head, and calculating percentages. Nobody has to be a calculator-monger.
Maths is an exercise in rational thinking. You've probably made hundreds of decisions after considering all of the variables and how they might affect your decisions' outcomes. If you've ever redecorated a room, you've used a bit of algebra and geometry without realising it. If cooking is your passion, maths underpins that hobby, too.
In light of that, it's weird that you use the calculator on your phone to figure out a sales discount or restaurant tip. We'd go so far as to say that ready access to technology has taken away our ability to work things out in our heads.
That's where these devices do us a disservice. Why push buttons when we could be exercising our brains?
So let's find out how to get better at mental maths. It doesn't involve a four-year university course, just a bit of brain power. To get you started on the right track, we've compiled a few tips, tricks and strategies to help you solve maths problems in your head.
Recap the Basics of Mental Arithmetic
Of all the mental math strategies to follow, getting started is the best one. Next time you need a spot of maths worked out, don't open your calculator app. Follow these tips to help you get better at mental arithmetic faster.
Fast Mental Maths Tricks
- To add numbers ending in 9, subtract one unit from one side and add it to the other: 525 + 29 ----> 524 + 30 = 554.
- Use the same shifting process to add 11, but in reverse: 428 + 11 ----> 429 + 10 = 439.
- Multiplying by 10 (100, 1000): add the corresponding number of zeroes behind the number 128 x 10 = 1280 (12800, 128 000).
- To calculate 10%: insert/move a decimal point between the last digit and the one before it: $68.00 ----> $6.8
- To calculate 15%, find the 10% value, divide by 2 and add that result to the 10% value: $6.8 / 2 = 3.4 + 6.8 = 10.02
- To multiply by 5, you can multiply by 10 then divide by 2. For example, 224 x 5 = 224 x 10 / 2 = 2240 / 2 = 1120.
- To multiply by 12, you only need to know your 'sixes' and 'twos' multiplication tables: 6 x 12 ----> 6 x 6 = 36 x 2 = 72
If you need to, revise your multiplication tables. Practise addition with increasingly larger numbers and work on simple division. You may want a few sessions of online maths tutoring to reacquaint yourself with rounding, calculating fractions and more advanced basic maths skills.
Mental Maths Practice Makes Perfect
These useful tips in maths are great since they put our brains to work. When used in the right way, your brain is capable of complex reasoning. The more we work our grey matter, the faster we get at mental maths. Soon enough, you won't have to think about math answers; they'll come flying out of you by reflex.
What's even better is what maths fluency does for you. As mentioned in this article's introduction, maths is all about rational thinking. If you think that way to solve math problems, that will be your default in other areas you apply thought to.
By mastering arithmetic, you're simplifying your life, improving your reactions, and gaining mathematical reflexes.
Just like any other muscle, your brain needs to work so it can stay strong and capable. Keeping a sharp mind is the best way to stave off cognitive decline, including Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. Playing math games, word games and even learning another language can all keep your brain fit. But mental maths keeps your reasoning skills and mental reflexes sharp.
Depending on your level and skill, as well as your weaknesses and your expectations, you might need a tailored tutoring programme. Find the best maths tutoring on Superprof if you're looking to surpass your classmates and improve your mental arithmetic.
Update Your Brain to Improve Mental Maths
Your brain works somewhat like a computer although the computing comparison seems trivial. According to the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California, our brain has a minimum capacity of around 1 petabyte (1,000GB). That's the capacity needed to process everything on the Internet.
The researchers at this American institute discovered that our hippocampus (the gland at the base of our brain) and its neurons function at 100% capacity by using very little energy. If our brain is the core unit with a hard drive, our skills and knowledge are the operating system. You should keep them up to date, right?
Our brain needs change to learn and activate its various faculties. You should make it use plenty of neurons so that information moves around more quickly. This is how you learn to calculate more quickly both in your private maths tutorials and in your daily life. Use it to get better at maths, "install" new programs, and learn new methods to improve your maths ability.
There is, however, a crucial difference between our brains and a computer system: the ability to reason. Both 'processing systems' are capable of logic; the computer is likely more so because they don't have feelings and experiences to factor in.
It can't reason, it can only make 'decisions' based on its inputs. But we can and building our reasoning skills with maths ability makes us better, more logical reasoners.
Don’t Rush Mental Arithmetic
You can build speed and fluency using a variety of mental math strategies. Take your time learning the basics of arithmetic and mathematical theories. Apply them as you work through easy exercises. Gain confidence in the beginning and then increase the difficulty as you advance.
Don’t waste time and energy with methods that don’t work. Consolidate your knowledge with regular maths exercises and keep practising. You may want to improve your mental arithmetic in private maths tutorials with a qualified mathematician. Remember that rushing usually causes mistakes by skipping essential steps.
It also causes frustration. If you don't like maths, repeating mistakes may reinforce the negative perception that maths isn't your subject. So start slowly, see what you need to do, and how you can do it.
With every new math problem you encounter, call upon your knowledge to find the solution.
Bonus tip: organise your knowledge. Take/make copious notes in class or during your revision sessions. Don't hesitate to ask your maths teacher in class or call a private maths tutor Sydney to clarify concepts you don't quite grasp.
It’s important to know the route you need to take to find the answer; understanding math concepts will lead to satisfying maths outcomes.
Fun Mental Maths Strategies
Even if a teacher is the best person to identify a student’s difficulties and rectify them, you should know that you can get better at maths. Daily life is full of situations where you can make progress. Make sure to use them in a fun way and enjoy them. After all, the best way to learn something is to enjoy what you’re doing.
Try adding up the cost of your shopping at the supermarket. This doesn’t mean counting everything to the penny. You can quickly work it out using some quick mental arithmetic.
Cooking is another way to improve your mental maths speed. You might double a recipe (multiply every measurement by two) or amuse yourself by calculating ingredients' ratios.
Baking is another excellent way to challenge your mental maths skills. It's your chance to work with proportions and fractions. Imagine working out how to cut a cake for 4 people into 6 equal parts, for example.
Math is everywhere around us. When you take a long car ride, work out how many kilometres to your destination and how fast you'll get there if you drive 60, 70 and 110 kilometres per hour.
D-It-Yourself (DIY) is all the rage these days. You might try your hand at sewing, which calls for accurate measuring. Are you painting your room? Calculate how much paint you'll need to apply two coats.
You can even play mental math games as you sit and relax. Try your hand at Sudoku, KenKen and other maths and logic puzzles. You can even drag out those word problems that so frustrated you during last year's maths classes.
There aren’t 100 ways to get better at maths. Training, repetition, and activities will make you more agile in mental maths.
You just need to train your brain and work on your mathematical reflexes. A private maths tutor Brisbane might help you get started.
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