10 Mental Maths Tricks for Kids | Learn How to Do Math Fast
Solving a maths question in mind without counting manually on the fingers is always a challenging task for kids. If we ask a random maths question to kids (e.g., what is 5 times 3), some kids will bring the calculator, some will count on fingers, and just a few of them will say “15” is the answer. Mental maths is not just speed. It’s about confidence and how a child sees maths questions in their mind. Teachers and parents are looking for easy mental maths tricks that help kids improve mental arithmetic quickly. Mental maths tricks help children to learn maths fast. By using these brain tricks, they can solve rapid-fire questions correctly.
There are multiple ways to improve mental maths, including hit the button maths online game. In this guide, I’ll tell you about the top mental maths tricks that kids love the most. The best thing about these mental maths strategies is that kids don’t need to remember all of these; they just have to master a few of them to be perfect in solving maths problems in their heads. Let’s start.
What is Mental Maths?
As the name suggests, mental maths is simply about solving a maths question without counting on the fingers or using a calculator. The purpose of mental maths shortcuts is to teach kids how to do math in their heads. If we ask kids maths questions from the 4 times table, like what is the answer to 4 x 7? You will see, most of them will start counting on their fingers, some kids will start looking for their calculator, and only a few of them will recall this maths problem in their head and provide the answer 28.
Kids who count on their fingers or use a calculator will also give the same answer, but the problem is not the correct or wrong answer. The problem is the lack of mental maths skills. Every kid must use mental maths tricks to give answers by using their mind instead of counting on fingers or getting help from a calculator.
Having a strong grip on mental maths techniques is not an overnight thing. It requires practice, practice, and practice. Understanding exactly what are number bonds and practising them daily can also help them to learn mental maths tricks much faster.
Top 10 Mental Maths Shortcuts for Kids
Below are the top 10 best mental maths tricks and strategies for kids and even for adults. Mastering these easy maths tricks will help a lot to solve any maths problem in your head, even without searching for a calculator! Let’s explore one by one.
Round Up Number in Addition
Adding large numbers is always difficult, specifically for odd-even combinations. For example, solving 658+331 is hard to solve in one’s mind. To solve this, we will round up 658 as 660 and 331 as 330.
Now, 660 + 330 = 990.
Once we get the total. We can get the exact answer to our math question by remembering how many numbers we add or subtract in the actual equation. So,
Then, 660 – 658 = 2; 330-331=(-1) and 2 – 1 = 1
So, finally, 990 – 1 = 989 is the exact answer.
Subtracting from 1,000
Subtracting any number from 1,000 is very easy. If you want to subtract any number from 1,000, just remember this basic rule. Subtract the first two digits from and the final digit from 10. Write all the digits in sequence, from left to right, and you will get the correct answer.
For example, to solve 1000 – 792, you will have to perform the following steps;
Step 1: subtract 7 from 9: = 9 – 7 = 2
Step 2: subtract 9 from 9: = 9 – 9 = 0
Step 3: subtract 2 from 10: 10 – 2 = 8
The answer will be 208.
Multiplying 5 times any number
Multiplying any number by 5 is also easy. This trick will open your mind when you see any multiplication question with 5. But you should remember one thing that this trick will be different for both even and odd numbers.
For Even Number:
For instance, solving 5×6, you have to do following steps;
Step 1: Half the number which has to be multiplied by 5. In this case, half of the 6 is 3.
Step 2: Place zero at the end of the half digit. In this case, 3 becomes 30.
Finally, 5 x 6 would be 30.
For Odd Numbers:
The trick will be different when multiplying any odd number by 5.
For instance, solving 5×7 will include the following steps;
Step 1: Subtract “1” from the digit that has to be multiplied by 5. In this case, 7 becomes 6.
Step 2: Half the digit (divide by 2). In this case, 6 becomes 3.
Step 3: Place 5 with the half digit. In this case, 3 becomes 35.
So, 5 x 7 would be 35. Simple!
Division Tricks
Division is one of the most important topics of any maths arithmetic. Each number (from 1 to 10) has a single trick. Here’s how;
- Dividing by 2: The final digit just needs to be an even number like 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8.
- Dividing by 3: Add all the single digits together. If that total amount is in the 3 times table, then the whole big number divides perfectly.
- Dividing by 4: Only look at the very last two digits. If they end in 00 or if those two numbers divide evenly by 4, your child has the right answer.
- Dividing by 5: Simply check the end of the math problem. The number must end in a 0 or a 5.
- Dividing by 6: The number must pass two quick tests. Firstly, it must be an even number, and secondly, all the digits added together must divide evenly by 3.
- Dividing by 8: Check the last three digits. That should be 000 or can be divided by 8.
- Dividing by 9: Add every single digit together. If that final total is evenly divisible by 9.
- Dividing by 10: This is the easiest division trick. The huge number simply must end with 0.
Multiplying by 9
Multiplication is another important topic in mathematics. Multiplying any number by 9 follows the trick below:
For instance, 9 x 4
Step 1: Subtract 1 from the number which has to be multiplied by 9. In this case, 4 – 1 = 3. Now, 3 is the first digit of the answer.
Step 2: Subtract this number from the 9 straight. In this case, 9 – 3 = 6. Now, 6 will be the second digit of the answer.
So, 9 times 4 is 36.
Times Tables Hack
Every single time table has a secret mental maths trick. If you are struggling with how to memorise times tables, here’s a real hack that kids can use to solve any times table problem up to 12x.
Table | Shortcut |
|---|---|
2x | Every answer ends in an even number. |
3x | Add the digits of the answer together, and the total will always be in the threes. |
4x | Just take your starting number and double it twice. |
5x | The final answer will always end in a 0 or a 5. |
6x | The answer is always even, and the digits always add up to three. |
7x | Break the math apart by adding your 5x answer and your 2x answer together. |
8x | Take your starting number and double it three times in a row. |
9x | When the digits of the answer are added, it comes up to 9 in total. |
10x | Simply put a zero at the very end of your starting number. |
11x | The two digits just repeat themselves like 33 or 44, or 55. |
12x | Just add your 10x answer and your 2x answer together to get the total. |
Percentage
Getting the percentage of any number is always tricky, and everyone must know these mental maths tricks for percentage calculation. For instance, if you want to get the 5% of 445. Just follow the steps below:
Step 1: Add the decimal point after two digits. It will be 44.5.
Step 2: Now divide these two digits with a decimal by 2. 44.5 divided by 2 is 22.25
So, 5% of 445 is 22.25.
Multiplication of Large Numbers
If you have to multiply two numbers and at least one of the numbers is an even number, you can use the simple half and double rule to get the correct answer. For 40 x 146, follow the trick below to solve this;
Step 1: Cut the first number in half by dividing it by 2. Half of 40 is 20.
Step 2: Double the second number. Double of 146 is 292.
Step 3: Now, multiply the new numbers together. Multiply 20 x 292 to get 5840. To solve this quickly, can simply double 292 to get 584 and put a zero at the very end. The final answer is 5840.
This mental trick is highly recommended for KS2 students as it reduces the fear of big numbers without using manual methods.
Square Number Ends in 5
Here is the multiplication trick for any square number that ends with 5. This secret will boost your child’s mental maths speed. For instance, let us use the number 65 as an example to see exactly how this magic works.
Step 1: Multiply the first digit by the next highest number in normal counting order. The number that comes right after 6 is 7. So you simply multiply 6 times 7 to get 42.
Step 2: This is the easiest step of all. Every single square number that ends in a five will always finish with the exact number 25. This part remains the same for all.
Step 3: You just take your answer from the first step and place the 25 at the end. When you put 42 and 25 together, you get 4225.
So, the square of 65 is 4225.
Multiplying numbers that end in zero
When kids see multiplication questions with a lot of zeros, they get confused. In reality, these multiplication questions are much easier for the digits that have zero in the end. For instance, consider a maths question of 300 x 4000 and follow the easy steps to crack such questions.
Step 1: Hide all the zeros. After hiding, multiply 3 by 4 to get 12.
Step 2: Count the hidden zeros. The number 300 has two zeros, the number 4000 has three zeros, and we have 5 zeros in total.
Step 3: Place all the zeros at the end of the first answer, i.e. 12. The final answer becomes 1,200,000 without involving any manual efforts.
Warning: Kids often make a big mistake when their first step creates a new zero. For example, when solving 50 times 40, they multiply 5 times 4 to get 20. They must write the full 20 first before adding the two extra zeros to get the correct answer of 2000. Practising this fast trick builds massive confidence and makes your child completely unafraid to work with huge numbers in their next math class.
Practice Questions to Improve Mental Maths
Well, you are fully equipped with the mental maths tricks now. So, it’s time to test your skills. The finest way to practice daily mental maths is to solve questions. Below are some math calculation practice questions to test your mental maths tricks for kids.
Practise Mental Maths Using Hit the Button Game
Being a parent of the kids, if you want your child to learn mental maths tricks quickly, the most effective way is to play hit the button free online maths game. It is the most loved and most played online maths game, especially for KS1 and KS2 students. Here’s why;
Instant Memory
Hit the button online is all about speed and confidence. When the clock starts ticking in the gameplay, kids rush to solve the question by recalling the relevant mental maths trick in their head without counting on their fingers due to time limitations.
Maintained Accuracy
When kids select the wrong answer in the mental maths games, the screen gives a red alert as instant feedback. This feedback stops children from making the same mistakes over and over again. In this way, kids can learn from their mistakes.
In-Depth Topic Coverage
This game provides a complete brain workout as it perfectly covers all the relevant topics that help improve the mental maths skills of kids, including number bonds, halving and division facts.
Importance of Mental Maths for KS1 and KS2
Many people think that the invention of calculators beats mental calculation tricks. In reality, and according to the research published in 2019 in the Journal of Educational Psychology, students with mental arithmetic skills perform better on the maths test. It’s not just about calculation speed; it’s about how they see actual maths problems in their mind by using their full cognitive capacity to solve any maths problem.
When a child solves a maths question 5×9 by counting on fingers, this consumes more brain energy. In contrast, when a child gives an instant answer to the same maths question, they use the same brain energy, but it focuses purely on solving the actual maths problem. Having mental maths skills helps children in their practical life. They must know how to calculate quickly, especially when it comes to discount prices, calculating a bill, travel expenses, and, most importantly, a household budget.
Here are 3 top benefits of learning how to do math fast;
Boost Daily Brain Power
When kids learn how to do fast maths, it actually frees up their working memory. Their brains save massive energy so they can use this energy to solve harder questions in school tests without feeling bored.
Protect Time and Money
Imagine your kid is in a grocery store to buy some items. Having fast mental maths skills will prevent them from making bad financial choices when it comes to budget planning. They will not have to pull out their calculator to calculate the basic shopping discounts.
Builds Confidence
Equipping mental arithmetic skills makes your child stand out in their social circle. This confidence is very important in the maths journey as they have to tackle bigger maths problems over time.
3 Qualities of Quick Maths Tricks
The purpose of mental math tricks is to give kids knowledge about how numbers actually work. All maths tips and tricks are different in sense, but shaping the kids’ minds into mental maths strategies is the core responsibility of the UK National Curriculum, especially when it comes to KS1 and KS2. According to teachers, kids must
- Have a strong grip on number bonds to 10
- Know times tables up to 12
- Know addition, subtraction, and multiplication
- Know about division facts
Mental maths strategies not only help children with maths questions, but these strategies also help in learning core subjects such as science, computer, and physics. One of the top benefits of learning mental maths is that it reduces maths anxiety among kids. When they start learning mental maths tricks, they overcome the fear of multiplication.
Here are the top 3 qualities of learning mental maths tricks for kids;
Exact Knowledge of Numbers
Using mental maths tricks enables kids to experience real numbers. Once they start using these mental maths for kids, they know how these numbers are interlinked and how they come together to make a correct answer.
Real Life Example
Using the specified mental maths strategies allows kids to apply them in real-life examples. When they see a maths problem and use mental maths tricks, they realise how to use such easy maths tricks in daily life maths problems, especially in business, or any discount prices, etc.
Logical Stance
Kids know the real science behind every mental maths tricks. When they solve any maths problem using these tricks, they can explain how this trick works.
4 Common Mistakes of Mental Maths Tricks
Everything has its pros and cons. Sometimes, kids can make mistakes even when using mental maths tricks. Here are 4 mistakes to avoid while learning how to do mental math quickly;
Counting on Fingers
Problem: Kids can still use their hands to count on fingers while solving any maths problem, as nobody taught them faster mental shortcuts.
Solution: Teachers and parents must teach them number bonds and simple doubling methods at the beginning of their maths journey to replace finger counting with the quick recall in their heads.
Forget to Round Up Numbers
Problem: It looks easy to round up any number using mental maths tricks, but normally, kids forget to subtract the extra digit they added while rounding up the number.
Solution: Kids should write the extra number just next to the equation to remember this while solving that question.
Adding Zero Value
Problem: Adding zero while multiplying any digit in a 10x table confuses the logic when kids learn decimal points.
Solution: Teachers must represent a visual chart of the times table so kids can see how numbers actually work.
No Cross-Checking
Problem: When the timer starts ticking, kids usually panic and rush into solving the answer without checking if the numbers are actually making sense or not.
Solution: Teachers must teach them how to double-check their answers, even if they are confident enough in their answer. Checking is always better than regret.
Final Words
Having a strong grip on all 10 mental maths tricks mentioned in this article is not an overnight thing; it takes time. Pick up just 1 or 2 tricks at the start and make a habit of practising these every day until it feels like a normal routine. As per experts in the UK, the main goal of teaching these mental maths strategies is to transform the maths skills of children. From slow, boring maths sheets to engaging, brain workout exercises.
One of the most effective and smartest ways to practice these mental maths skills is by playing hit the button maths game every single day. Watching kids beat their personal high score in the practice games is one of the most satisfying feelings as a parent. Pick your favourite one from the all 10 tricks today and start practising for lightning-fast mental maths speed that goes long.
