Here are 25 math tips and tricks to boost your calculation speed and problem-solving skills:
Basic Arithmetic Tricks
1. Multiplying by 5 – Multiply by 10 and divide by 2.
o Example: 46×546 \times 5 → 46×10=46046 \times 10 = 460, then
460÷2=230460 \div 2 = 230.
2. Multiplying by 9 – Use the finger trick or subtract the number from 10 times itself.
o Example: 9×79 \times 7 → 70−7=6370 - 7 = 63.
3. Squaring Numbers Ending in 5 – Use the formula n×(n+1)n \times (n+1) and
append 25.
o Example: 352=3×4=12,35^2 = 3 \times 4 = 12, then add 25 → 1225.
4. Divisibility Rules:
o 2: If the last digit is even.
o 3: If the sum of digits is divisible by 3.
o 4: If the last two digits form a number divisible by 4.
o 5: If it ends in 0 or 5.
o 9: If the sum of digits is divisible by 9.
5. Multiplying by 11 – Split the number and insert the sum of its digits in between.
o Example: 23×11=2(2+3)3=25323 \times 11 = 2(2+3)3 = 253.
Quick Mental Math
6. Adding large numbers – Round one number up, add, then adjust.
o Example: 598+326598 + 326 → Round 598 to 600, add 600 + 326 = 926, then
subtract 2 → 924.
7. Subtracting from 1000 – Subtract each digit from 9, except the last (from 10).
o Example: 1000−738=2621000 - 738 = 262.
8. Multiplying by 25 – Multiply by 100 and divide by 4.
o Example: 64×2564 \times 25 → 6400÷4=16006400 \div 4 = 1600.
9. Multiplying by 15 – Multiply by 10 and add half of the result.
o Example: 24×1524 \times 15 → 240+120=360240 + 120 = 360.
10. Finding 10% of a number – Move the decimal one place left.
o Example: 10% of 340 is 34.
Advanced Calculation Tricks
11. Multiplying by 99 – Multiply by 100 and subtract the original number.
o Example: 87×99=8700−87=861387 \times 99 = 8700 - 87 = 8613.
12. Multiplying two numbers close to 100 – Use (100−a)(100−b)=10000−
(a+b)×100+ab(100-a)(100-b) = 10000 - (a+b) \times 100 + ab.
o Example: 96×97=(100−4)(100−3)=10000−700+12=931296 \times 97 = (100 -
4)(100 - 3) = 10000 - 700 + 12 = 9312.
13. Square numbers near 50 – Use (50+x)2=2500+100x+x2(50 + x)^2 = 2500 + 100x +
x^2.
o Example: 472=2500−300+9=220947^2 = 2500 - 300 + 9 = 2209.
14. Finding the remainder when divided by 9 – Sum the digits and find the remainder
when divided by 9.
o Example: 1234→1+2+3+4=101234 \to 1+2+3+4 = 10, remainder is 1.
15. Multiplying numbers ending in 1 – Use (a+1)(b+1)=ab+a+b+1(a+1)(b+1) = ab + a
+ b + 1.
o Example: 21×31=20×30+20+30+1=65121 \times 31 = 20 \times 30 + 20 + 30
+ 1 = 651.
Fractions and Percentages
16. Converting fractions to percentages – Multiply by 100 and simplify.
o Example: 38×100=37.5%\frac{3}{8} \times 100 = 37.5\%.
17. Finding percentages easily – Use fraction equivalents.
o Example: 12.5% = 1/8, 20% = 1/5, 25% = 1/4, 33.3% = 1/3.
18. Finding a fraction of a number – Divide first, then multiply.
o Example: 25\frac{2}{5} of 200 → 200÷5=40200 \div 5 = 40, then 40×2=8040
\times 2 = 80.
19. Rule of 72 – To estimate doubling time, use 72÷interest rate72 \div \text{interest
rate}.
o Example: At 6%, money doubles in 72÷6=1272 \div 6 = 12 years.
20. Easy fraction comparisons – Cross multiply for quick comparison.
o Example: Which is larger, 58\frac{5}{8} or 35\frac{3}{5}? Compare 5 × 5 =
25 vs. 3 × 8 = 24 → 58\frac{5}{8} is larger.
Geometry and Algebra Tricks
21. Pythagorean Triples – Memorize common sets:
o (3,4,5), (5,12,13), (7,24,25), etc.
22. Squaring any number – Use (a+b)2=a2+2ab+b2(a+b)^2 = a^2 + 2ab + b^2.
o Example: 412=(40+1)2=1600+80+1=168141^2 = (40+1)^2 = 1600 + 80 + 1 =
1681.
23. Multiplication trick for two numbers with the same tens digit and ones summing
to 10 – Multiply the tens digit by the next higher digit, then multiply ones.
o Example: 42×4842 \times 48 → 4×5=204 \times 5 = 20, 2×8=162 \times 8 =
16, answer = 2016.
24. Finding averages quickly – Use the formula:
Average=Sum of termsNumber of terms\text{Average} = \frac{\text{Sum of terms}}
{\text{Number of terms}}
25. Mental square root estimation – Find the nearest perfect squares and estimate.
o Example: 50\sqrt{50} is between 49=7\sqrt{49} = 7 and 64=8\sqrt{64} = 8,
so 50≈7.1\sqrt{50} \approx 7.1.
Bonus Tip:
Practice makes perfect! The more you use these tricks, the faster your calculations
will become.
Which of these do you find most useful? 😊
