WAJ3105 Numerical Literacy

2.7

Mental Computation and Estimation

Introduction Mental computation and estimation techniques are valuable components in doing and using mathematics. For example, a biologist studying penguins might need to estimate a particular penguin population. Many mental calculation and estimation techniques are based on the properties of whole numbers and ideas of place value. Mental computation and estimation require a solid understanding of numeration, a mastery of the basic facts, good number sense, and an ability to utilize mathematical reasoning.In this chapter, you will develop techniques for mental computation and estimation and explore paper- and - pencil procedures for adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing whole numbers.

What is the Mental Computation ? Most of us have heard someone say, I just did it in my head, when explaining how a calculation was done. This process of doing it in your head, usually with the help of counting, numeration ideas, or basic properties, is what is meant by mental computation. Mental computation is the process of finding an exact answer to a computation mentally, without pencil, paper, calculator, or any other computational aid.

Most people are aware of the paper-and-pencil procedures they use for doing calculations, but often arent aware of the procedures they use to do calculations mentally.Moreover, as Mini-Investigation 2.7.1 may have shown, not everyone uses the same technique when doing a particular calculation or uses a specific technique in the same way 56

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Contrary to the cartoon shown in Figure 2.7.1, people are never required to use mental computation. That is, there are no set rules about when to use mental computation. Rather, individuals compute mentally when they feel confident that they can do so. Mental computation can be used to find exact answers and to estimate answers. Both situations call for examining the numbers involved and deciding whether the mental tasks can be carried out accurately.
Figure 2.7.1

2.7.1 Strategies and Procedures of Mental Computation Essential Understanding for this section The commutative, associative, and distributive properties enable numbers to be rearranged and broken apart in ways that change some wholenumber calculations into ones that are easy to do mentally. Representing numbers and numerical expressions in equivalent forms can make some whole-number calculations easy to do mentally.

In this section, we examine six techniques for mental computation. We also look at the role of the basic properties of whole numbers and place value in these techniques. We stress the importance of understanding numeration and mastering basic facts. Investigation 2.7.1 will help you think about the mental computation techniques you already use and should demonstrate that there is more than one way to do a mental computation.

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Investigation 2.7.1 : Using Mathematical Reasoning Write an explanation of the thinking you used to arrive at each answer. Use mental computation to do the following calculation: a. b. c. d. 1877 + 300 8 X 24 6 X 31 X 5 775 - 38

2.7.2

Mental Computation Techniques

Understanding some specific mental computation techniques can help you efficiently and accurately carry them out. The techniques developed in this section are commonly used in mental computation. a) Count On and Count Back. The count on technique is an efficient method for adding when one of the addends is 1, 2, or 3; 10, 20, or 30; or 100, 200, or 300; and so on. For example, in the calculation 45 + 30, you can start at 45 and count on by tens to get the sum: 45, 55, 65, 75. To count on, start by saying the larger addend and then count on to find the sum. The count back technique is an efficient method when subtracting 1, 2, or 3; 10, 20, or 30; and so on. For the calculation 87 2, you can start with the larger number, 871, and count back: 871, 870, 869. Most people can accurately count on or count back three numbers. Counting errors become common when people count on or back more than three numbers.

Procedure for Using the Count On and Count Back Techniques When You Might Use These Techniques Use this technique if one of the numbers to be added or subtracted is 1, 2, or 3; 10, 20, or 30; or 100, 200, or 300; and so on. How to Use These Techniques 58

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1. Begin by saying the larger number. 2. Count on to add or count back to subtract 1, 2, or 3; 10, 20, or 30; 100, 200, or 300; and so on.

Example 2.7.1 : Debt and Expense Totals

1) A credit card shows that a person owes $8,800 on a car loan and has $3,100 in credit card debt. What is this persons total debt for these two items? 2) Expenses at a health fair last year were $1,155. This years committee was able to trim expenses by $200. What is the new cost for expenses? Solution 1) Find 8800 + 3100. First, add the thousands. Start at 8,800 and count on by 1,000 three times: 8,800, 9,800, 10,800, 11,800. So 8800 + 3000 = 11800. Now start with 11,800 and count on by 100: 11,800, 11,900. The total debt is $11,900. 2) Find 1155 200. Start at 1,155 and count back by 100 twice: 1,155, 1,055, 955. The new cost for expenses is $955.

Practice : Find the exact value of each expression by counting on or counting back. Explain the process you used in each case. a) 286 + 30 b) 18200 + 2300 c) 962 - 3

b) Choose Compatible Numbers. Some number combinations may be easy to add, such as 25 and 175, and others may be easy to multiply, such as 28 x 10. Numbers that are easy to compute mentally are called compatible numbers. The choose compatible numbers technique involves selecting pairs of compatible numbers to perform the computation, usually involving a basic fact. Most people can add and subtract multiples of 10 or 100 mentally, for example 70 + 20 = 90, and can multiply by multiples of 10 and 100, for example 34 x 100 = 3400,

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However, beyond a few obvious cases, people must decide which numbers are compatible for them. Most people find that with some practice they have more compatible numbers at their disposal than they realized.

Procedure for Using the Choose Compatible Numbers Technique When You Might Use This Technique Use this technique if one or more pairs of numbers can be easily added, subtracted, multiplied, or divided; or Use this technique if numbers can be combined to produce multiples of 10, 100, or other numbers that make calculations easy.

How to Use This Technique 1. Look for pairs of numbers that are easy to calculate for the operation required. Do these calculations first. 2. Look for the other number combinations that can be calculated easily.

Example 2.7.2: Choosing Compatible Numbers in Multiplication Look for compatible numbers to find the exact value for the computation (2 x 8) x (5 x 7) Solution Siti thinking: I saw that 2 times 5 equals 10, and multiplying by 10 is easy. Then, 8 times 7 is 56 and 56 times 10 is 560. The product is 560. Aisyah thinking: I saw that 8 times 5 is 40. Then, 40 times 2 is 80 and 80 times 7 is 560. The product is 560.

Practice: Look for compatible numbers to find the exact value for the following expressions:

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a)

(25 x 9) x (11 x 4)

b)

(5 x 15) x (20 x 3)

Example 2.7.3 : Problem Solving: Bike Costs Suppose that you want to buy a new racing bike for next weeks race. How much money would you need if your costs are Bicycle Tax $715 67

Solution You need to find (715 + 67) + 15. Start with 715 and 15, which are easy to add mentally and produce another number that is easy to use: 715 + 15 = 730. Now 730 and 67 can be added mentally by counting on in the tens place: 730 + 67 = 797. You need $797.

Practice: Look for compatible numbers to find the exact value for each expression. Explain the process you used.

a) b) c)

4 x 16 x 25 63 + 18 + 27 + 12 120 + 385 + 115 + 280

2.7.3 Strategies and Procedure For Estimation In this section, we examine four estimation techniques. They draw on an understanding of numeration and knowledge of basic facts. Like the techniques for mental calculation described in Section 2.1, they also involve decisions about whether an estimated answer is acceptable for a given situation and which technique should be used to arrive at the estimate. Mini-Investigation 2.3 will help you think about estimation techniques that you already use and should demonstrate that there is more than one way to estimate an answer.

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Essential Understanding for this Section

All numerical estimation techniques involve replacing numbers with ones that are close and that are easy to calculate with mentally.

The numbers and estimation technique used determine whether an estimate The real-world context determines whether an exact answer or an estimate is needed to solve a problem.

Investigation 2.7.2 : Using Mathematical Reasoning Estimate the answers to the following expressions: a. b. c. d. 478 + 223 8 x 26 578 + 603 + 614 + 582 36563 - 8180

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