Cut one number in half and double the other. The answer stays the same. Example: 14 x 5 Half of 14 is 7. Double of 5 is 10. . (Much easier than 14 x 5!)
At a restaurant, ask them to mentally calculate the 10% or 20% tip before you look at the receipt.
This is a lifesaver for multiplication tables that haven't been memorized yet. It simplifies complex problems into manageable ones.
Standard school math teaches kids to work right-to-left (ones, then tens). Mental math is much faster . The Trick: Add the "big" values first. Example: 64 + 28 Add the tens: Add the ones:
It’s great for any problem involving a 5 or an even number. 4. "Front-End" Addition
Here’s a deep dive into the mental math strategies that are actually fun for kids to learn. 1. The "Friendly Numbers" Strategy (Compensation)
Take the two-digit number, split the digits, and put their sum in the middle. Example: 35 x 11 Split the 3 and the 5: 3 _ 5 Sandwich the 8 in the middle: 385
This is arguably the coolest-looking trick in mental math. It works for any two-digit number multiplied by 11.