How to Improve Math Calculation Speed?

Summary

We often come across maths calculations in our everyday life. Did you ever wonder who easy it
would be if you can calculate a problem without reaching out to the calculator on your
smartphone? If you are a student trying to learn some tricks to improve your maths calculation
speed, or calculating that bill in a supermarket, learning how to calculate quickly can be quite
beneficial in the long run.

Article Body

Have you ever asked yourself – how to improve maths calculation speed? Well, improving the
calculation speed not only expands your memory but also sharpens your mind. The calculation
is a very prominent part of maths. If you have a good calculation speed, every aspect of math
seems easy.

Few people calculate quickly in their mind, and students can save time during the exams if they
can do so. Improving maths calculation speed is not as hard as it looks. You would be surprised
to know the wonders your brain can do with a little training and smartness.

Just make sure to remember the simple rules mentioned below.

Practice with very easy or easy calculations

You can first start making easy calculations in your mind. For example, you can try 250+500 and
practice easy multiplication and division the same way. Never try and solve calculations that are
complicated directly. Remember that the more you practice with basic calculations, the easier it
is to do complicated calculations.

Learn a few tricks

There are many tricks you can learn that help you with calculating large multiplications and
divisions. You can use tables or other patterns that improve the calculation speed. But once you
learn the tricks, make sure you practice them regularly, so that you can use it without trouble
when the situation arises.

Write down the calculations

Even when you can do complicated calculations in your mind, make sure to write them down.
This way, your problem becomes easier, and you get to practice it as well.

Use your fingers

Using fingers for calculating can sound like an old trick, but it can be quite useful for quick
calculations. But, you also need to know how you can count the numbers using your fingers,
and then use it for calculation.

Try addition and subtraction from left to right

Do you remember how we subtract and add numbers? We follow the basic method we are
taught in school – follow the right to left pattern. Well, it is indeed a fine method to follow
when you are doing calculations using a pen and paper. But, when you need to do some quick
calculations, it always helps to move from left to right. Just switch the order and start with the
large values first. So, if you have to add 50 and 26, you can add 50 and 20, which his 70. Then
add 8 and 6, which are 14. Now, 70+14 is 84. Easy to calculate.

Take it easy

If you have some difficult calculations to make, you need to simplify the problem by “shifting
the values.” For example, when you are adding 593 to 680, you can add the value 7 to 593 to
obtain 600. Now add 600 to 680, and you get a total of 1280. Now subtract the 7 you added
earlier to obtain the final answer which is 1273. Likewise, you can follow tricks to multiply large
numbers, as well.

Use building blocks

Everyone has trouble memorizing the multiplication tables. As it is an important part of maths
calculations, one has to find ways to achieve perfection than ignoring them. Multiplication
tables are known to be the “building blocks” of mathematics and are to be practiced well to
solve complicated calculations quickly. So, if you feel you have forgotten the multiplication
tables, it is time you memorize them thoroughly.

Treat squares like your friends

While there are simple tricks you can follow for calculations related to addition and subtraction,
calculating large numbers can often get challenging. One good idea as suggested by maths
experts is the use of squares. By memorizing all the multiplication tables, you can memorize
only the squares. You can start by learning the squares for numbers till 20. You will be surprised
to see the number of calculations you can do in no time using this knowledge.

It is ok to reach an estimate

When you are trying to calculate large numbers, do know that it is alright to obtain an estimate.
Never worry about achieving a perfect answer when you are trying to work on complicated
calculations involving large numbers.

Rearrange when you are in doubt

Maths is a wonderful subject that allows you to rearrange the problems to obtain a solution in
an easy way. Just break down complex problems to their simple form and start with your
calculations. For example, solving a problem 2*(12+33) can look complicated. But the same can
be rearranged into three calculations, i.e. (2*12) + (2*30) + (2*3), making it easy to obtain the
answer.

Likewise, you can even break a complicated problem into sub-problems and obtain the solution
in no time. If you are calculating large numbers, you can try and convert them into their
scientific notation.

Conclusion
Those mentioned above are a few tips you can follow to improve your maths calculation speed.
Subjects like mathematics require regular practice. Be it the simple multiplications or additions;
make sure to practice every trick and formula thoroughly to calculate even the most
complicated problems in no time.

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