Basic Arithmetic (TIPS and TRICKS To Solve MCQS)

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10 tricks for doing fast math
Here are 10 fast math strategies students (and adults!) can use to do math in their heads. Once
these strategies are mastered, students should be able to accurately and confidently solve math

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problems that they once feared solving.

1. Adding large numbers

Adding large numbers just in your head can be difficult. This method shows how to simplify this
process by making all the numbers a multiple of 10. Here is an example:

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644 + 238

While these numbers are hard to contend with, rounding them up will make them more

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manageable. So, 644 becomes 650 and 238 becomes 240.

Now, add 650 and 240 together. The total is 890. To find the answer to the original equation, it
must be determined how much we added to the numbers to round them up.

650 – 644 = 6 and 240 – 238 = 2

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Now, add 6 and 2 together for a total of 8

To find the answer to the original equation, 8 must be subtracted from the 890.
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890 – 8 = 882

So the answer to 644 +238 is 882.

2. Subtracting from 1,000

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Here’s a basic rule to subtract a large number from 1,000: Subtract every number except the last
from 9 and subtract the final number from 10

For example:
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1,000 – 556

Step 1: Subtract 5 from 9 = 4

Step 2: Subtract 5 from 9 = 4

 Step 3: Subtract 6 from 10 = 4

The answer is 444.

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3. Multiplying 5 times any number
When multiplying the number 5 by an even number, there is a quick way to find the answer.

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For example, 5 x 4 =

 Step 1: Take the number being multiplied by 5 and cut it in half, this makes the number 4
become the number 2.
 Step 2: Add a zero to the number to find the answer. In this case, the answer is 20.
5 x 4 = 20

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When multiplying an odd number times 5, the formula is a bit different.

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For instance, consider 5 x 3.

 Step 1: Subtract one from the number being multiplied by 5, in this instance the number 3
becomes the number 2.
 Step 2: Now halve the number 2, which makes it the number 1. Make 5 the last digit. The
number produced is 15, which is the answer.
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5 x 3 = 15

4. Division tricks
Here’s a quick way to know when a number can be evenly divided by these certain numbers:
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 10 if the number ends in 0

 9 when the digits are added together and the total is evenly divisible by 9
 8 if the last three digits are evenly divisible by 8 or are 000
 6 if it is an even number and when the digits are added together the answer is evenly divisible by
3
 5 if it ends in a 0 or 5
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 4 if it ends in 00 or a two digit number that is evenly divisible by 4

 3 when the digits are added together and the result is evenly divisible by the number 3
 2 if it ends in 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8
5. Multiplying by 9
This is an easy method that is helpful for multiplying any number by 9. Here is how it works:
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Let’s use the example of 9 x 3.

Step 1: Subtract 1 from the number that is being multiplied by 9.

3–1=2
 The number 2 is the first number in the answer to the equation.

Step 2: Subtract that number from the number 9.

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9–2=7

The number 7 is the second number in the answer to the equation.

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So, 9 x 3 = 27

6. 10 and 11 times tricks

The trick to multiplying any number by 10 is to add a zero to the end of the number. For
example, 62 x 10 = 620.

There is also an easy trick for multiplying any two-digit number by 11. Here it is:

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11 x 25

number is 25.

2_5
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Take the original two-digit number and put a space between the digits. In this example, that
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Now add those two numbers together and put the result in the center:

2_(2 + 5)_5

2_7_5
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The answer to 11 x 25 is 275.

If the numbers in the center add up to a number with two digits, insert the second number and
add 1 to the first one. Here is an example for the equation 11 x 88
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8_(8 +8)_8

(8 + 1)_6_8

9_6_8
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There is the answer to 11 x 88: 968

 7. Percentage
Finding a percentage of a number can be somewhat tricky, but thinking about it in the right terms
makes it much easier to understand. For instance, to find out what 5% of 235 is, follow this

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method:

 Step 1: Move the decimal point over by one place, 235 becomes 23.5.
 Step 2: Divide 23.5 by the number 2, the answer is 11.75. That is also the answer to the original

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equation.
8. Quickly square a two-digit number that ends in 5
Let’s use the number 35 as an example.

 Step 1: Multiply the first digit by itself plus 1.

 Step 2: Put a 25 at the end.
35 squared = [3 x (3 + 1)] & 25

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[3 x (3 + 1)] = 12

12 & 25 = 1225

35 squared = 1225

9. Tough multiplication
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When multiplying large numbers, if one of the numbers is even, divide the first number in half,
and then double the second number. This method will solve the problem quickly. For instance,
consider

20 x 120
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Step 1: Divide the 20 by 2, which equals 10. Double 120, which equals 240.

Then multiply your two answers together.

10 x 240 = 2400
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The answer to 20 x 120 is 2,400.

10. Multiplying numbers that end in zero

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Multiplying numbers that end in zero is actually quite simple. It involves multiplying the other
numbers together and then adding the zeros at the end. For instance, consider:

200 x 400

Step 1: Multiply the 2 times the 4

 2x4=8

Step 2: Put all four of the zeros after the 8

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80,000

200 x 400= 80,000

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Practicing these fast math tricks can help both students and teachers improve their math skills
and become secure in their knowledge of mathematics—and unafraid to work with numbers in
the future.

8 Magic Math Tricks For Fast Calculations

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Imagine how mathematics would be easy and interesting when you have the ability to calculate
the problems in a matter of seconds using some tricks. There are different kinds of arithmetic
operations like addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, squaring, roots, powers,

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logarithms, divisions, etc. Here are some of the best tricks, which will help students to perform
arithmetic calculations easily.

1. Addition Tricks
With the help of basic principles of tens and unit places, the addition of two-digit numbers is
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performed by

 Take 43+34
 Split the second number into tens and unit places. 34=30+4
 Finish the ten’s addition. 43+30=73
 Finally, add the remaining unit place digit. 73+4=77.
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2. Tricks for Subtraction

Here is an example that requires a lot of borrowing
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 Consider two numbers say 1000 and 676

 Subtract 1 from both the numbers; we get 999 and 675
 Then subtract 675 from 999, we get 324
 So, 1000 – 676 = 324.
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3. Quick Multiplication by Breaking Down Numbers

 Let’s try the number 24 and 16

 First split the number 24, which gives 4 x 6
 Then multiply 6 with 16, we get 96
 Finally multiply the number, 96 x 4 =384
  So, the multiplication of two numbers 24 x 16 that gives the solution 384.

4. Multiplied By 15

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 Consider the multiplication of two numbers say 56 and 15
 Now add zero at the end of the first number, it becomes 560.
 Divide that number by 2; we get 560/2=280

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 Add the resultant number with 560, so 560+280=840.
 So the answer for 56 and 15 is 840.

5. Multiplication of Two-Digit Numbers

If anyone of the given numbers is an even number, then follow the steps to solve

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 Consider an example, 18 x 37
 Here 18 is an even number, then divide the first number in half, so that 18/2 = 9



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Then double the second number. 37 x 2 =74
Finally, multiply the resultant numbers. It becomes 74 x 9 = 666

6. Division Tricks (Divisibility Rules)

The numbers that can be evenly divided by certain numbers are:
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 If a number is an even number and ends in 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8, it is divided by 2.
 A number is divisible by 3 if the sum of the digits is divisible by 3. Consider the number
12 = 1 + 3 and 3 is divisible by 3.
 A number is divisible by 4 if the last two digits are divisible by 4. Example: 9312. Here
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the last two digits are 12, and 12 is divisible by 4.

 If the last digit is 0 or 5, it is divisible by 5
 Since 6 is the product of 2 and 3, it obeys the divisibility rule 2 and rule 3.
 If the number is divisible by 8, the last three digits of the numbers are divisible by 8.

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If a number is divisible by 9, the sum of the digits is divided by 9. Let us consider the
example, 4518 = 4+ 5+1+8=18, which is divisible by 9.
 If the final digit of the number is 0, it is divisible by 10.

7. Trick to Find Percentage

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Let us take; we have to find the percentage of the number 5% of 475, follow the steps.

 For the given number, move the decimal point over by one place. 475 becomes 47.5
 Then divide the number 47.5 by 2, we get 23.75.
 23.75 is the solution to the given problem.
 8. Calculation of Squares that Ends with the Digit 5

 Let’s consider the number 75 to find its square.

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 Start writing the answer of last two digits number that is 25 because any number that ends
with 5 is 25
 Take the first digit of the number 75. That is 7 and take the number that follows 7 is 8.
 Now, multiply 7 and 8, we get the number 56.

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 Finally, write the number 56 in the prefix and combined with 25 what we already wrote.
 So, the answer is 5625.
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 Squares Ending in 5: n5 = n(n+1)5 = n(n+1)25 , where n is the first digit.
 Example: Let’s consider the number 75 to find its square. Here n = 7,
So, 75 = 7(7+1)25 = (7 x 8) 25 = 5625.

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Simple Math Tricks

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Here are a few more maths tricks which are simple to remember.
Multiplication by 2 and 4: When a number is multiplied by 2 or 4, then the last digit of the
resulted value will be even number always.
Examples:
19 x 2 = 38
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19 x 4 = 76
Multiplication by 5: When a number is multiplied by 5, then the resulted value will either end
with 0 or 5. Examples:
11 x 5 = 55
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8 x 5 = 40
121 x 5 = 605
Multiplication by 10: When a number is multiplied by 10, then the resulted value ends with 0
always.
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Examples:
5 x 10 = 50
10 x 10 = 100
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11 x 10 = 110
17 x 10 = 170
211 x 10 = 2110
Memorising Table of 9: It is easy to remember the table of 9. Just we need to focus on the
pattern.
 09, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, 81, 90
We can see the numbers at the ten’s place are increasing by 1, and the numbers at the unit place

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are decreasing by 1.
For more maths tips and tricks, to solve the complicated sum in a matter of seconds, register with
BYJU’S – The Learning App and watch the interactive videos.

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

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What is the use of maths tricks?
Maths tricks help us to do the calculation fast. It saves time and increases the chances of scoring
more marks in the exams.

What are multiplication tricks?

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The multiplication tricks are used to solve multiplication problems quickly and accurately. If we
are able to memorize multiplication tables, then we can easily solve the questions based on them.

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How to add in a faster way?
To add any two numbers in a faster way, follow the below steps:
Firstly, round up both the numbers by adding or subtracting small numbers.
Add the numbers.
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Now subtract or add those values to get the final result.
For example, Add 799 and 299.
Round up 799 to 799+1 = 800 and 299 to 299+1 = 300
800+300 = 1100
Now subtract the added numbers from 1100,
1100-1-1 = 1100-2 = 1099
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How to multiply quickly?

We can split the numbers and then multiply them. For example, multiply 81 and 24.
Splitting the number 81 = 8 x 9
Multiply 24 by 8, 24 x 8 = 192
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Now multiply 192 x 9 = 1728

Hence, multiplication te number by one digit number is easier.

How to find if a number is divisible by 9?

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If a number is divisible by 9, the sum of the digits is divided by 9. Let us consider the example,
1728 = 1+ 7+2+8=18, which is divisible by 9.

How to find if a number is divisible by 13?

If a number N is given, then multiply the last digit of N with 4 and add it to the rest truncate of
the number. If the outcome is divisible by 13, then the number N is also divisible by 13.
For example, 650 is divisible by 13 because;
 65+0*4=65
65 is divisible by 13

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