15 Math Tricks That Will Blow Your Mind.

Do you want to give your mathematics skills a boost? Here are some simple math tricks that can help you perform calculations more quickly and easily.

15 Math Tricks That Will Blow Your Mind.
Table of Contents

Introduction

Not everyone is a master at juggling numbers, but the subject isn't as complicated as it seems if you make use of simple math tricks that will make solving any math problem a piece of cake!

To understand math easily, the subject can be seen as a game of building blocks stacked on one another: the base must have a strong foundation to move into more complex concepts and tougher applications.

A lot of students, as well as a lot of parents, are intimidated by math problems, especially if they involve large numbers and complicated calculations.

Math tricks help you learn techniques to solve questions quickly and can help students develop greater confidence in math, along with improved math skills and understanding.

Math tricks

It is also important to consider how the concepts of math are interconnected. What you learn about multiplication can be applied to division, which also applies to factors and multiples, which can be used to understand fractions. Math tricks help you find such connections between concepts and speed up calculations.

Math tricks, when learned at an early age, work like magic and help students excel at academics as well as advanced courses, opening up an array of opportunities for the future.

15 Math Tricks for kids

1. Multiplying by 6

If you multiply 6 by an even number, the answer will end with the same digit. The number in the tens place will be half of the number in the ones place. This trick works effortlessly, and students can add it to their collection of math magic tricks!

💡 Example: 6 x 4 = 24
24

2. The Answer Is 2

  • Think of a number.
  • Multiply it by 3.
  • Add 6.
  • Divide this number by 3.
  • Subtract the number from Step 1 from the answer in Step 4.
  • The answer is 2.
2

3. Same Three-Digit Number

  • Think of any three-digit number in which each of the digits is the same. Examples include 333, 666, 777, and 999.
  • Add up the digits.
  • Divide the three-digit number by the answer in Step 2.
  • The answer is 37.
37

4. Six Digits Become Three

  • Take any three-digit number and write it twice to make a six-digit number. Examples include 371371 or 552552.
  • Divide the number by 7.
  • Divide it by 11.
  • Divide it by 13.
  • The order in which you do the division is unimportant!
  • The answer is the original three-digit number.
💡 Example: 371371 gives you 371, or 552552 gives you 552.
A related trick is to take any three-digit number and multiply it by 7, 11, and 13. The result will be a six-digit number that repeats the three-digit number.
456 becomes 456456

5. The 11 Rule

The 11 rule is one of those magic methods that can be used to quickly multiply two-digit numbers by 11 in your head.

  • Separate the two digits in your mind.
  • Add the two digits together.
  • Place the number from Step 2 between the two digits. If the number from Step 2 is greater than 9, put the ones digit in the space and carry the tens digit.
💡 Example: 72 x 11 = 792.
57 x 11 = 5 _ 7, but 5 + 7 = 12, so put 2 in the space and add the 1 to the 5 to get 627.
Love a good shortcut? Here's why they actually work.

Tricks are great, but knowing the reasoning makes them stick, and helps you invent your own. Watch a Cuemath tutor explain the math behind mental shortcuts, free, no sign-up.

6. Memorizing Pi

This is probably the most fun trick in math. To remember the first seven digits of pi, count the number of letters in each word of the sentence:
"How I wish I could calculate pi."
This becomes 3.141592.

3.141592

7. Contains the Digits 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8

  • Select a number from 1 to 6.
  • Multiply the number by 9.
  • Multiply it by 111.
  • Multiply it by 1001.
  • Divide the answer by 7.
  • The number will contain the digits 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, and 8.
💡 Example: The number 6 yields the answer 857142.
857142

8. Multiply Large Numbers in Your Head

Another math magic trick to easily multiply two double-digit numbers is to use their distance from 100 to simplify the math:

  • Subtract each number from 100.
  • Add these two values together.
  • 100 minus that sum is the first part of the answer.
  • Multiply the two values from Step 1 to get the second part of the answer.

9. Super Simple Divisibility Rules

Say you have 210 pieces of pizza and want to know whether you can split them evenly within your group. Rather than reaching for the calculator, use these simple shortcuts to do the math in your head:

  • Divisible by 2 if the last digit is a multiple of 2 (210).
  • Divisible by 3 if the sum of the digits is divisible by 3 (522, because the digits add up to 9, which is divisible by 3).
  • Divisible by 4 if the last two digits are divisible by 4 (2540, because 40 is divisible by 4).
  • Divisible by 5 if the last digit is 0 or 5 (9905).
  • Divisible by 6 if it passes the rules for both 2 and 3 (408).
  • Divisible by 9 if the sum of the digits is divisible by 9 (6390, since 6 + 3 + 9 + 0 = 18, which is divisible by 9).
  • Divisible by 10 if the number ends in a 0 (8910).
  • Divisible by 12 if the rules for divisibility by 3 and 4 both apply.
💡 Example: The 210 slices of pizza may be evenly distributed into groups of 2, 3, 6, and 10.

10. Finger Multiplication Tables

Everyone knows you can count on your fingers. Did you realize you can use them for multiplication? A simple math magic trick to do the "9" multiplication table is to place both hands in front of you with fingers and thumbs extended. To multiply 9 by a number, fold down that number finger, counting from the left.

💡 Example 1: To multiply 9 by 5, fold down the fifth finger from the left. Count the fingers on either side of the "fold" to get the answer. In this case, the answer is 45.
45
💡 Example 2: To multiply 9 times 6, fold down the sixth finger, giving an answer of 54.
54
Turn these tricks into a game

The fastest way to lock in mental math is to play with it. Try Cuemath's free online math games to sharpen speed and number sense, no sign-up needed.

11. Adding large numbers

Adding large numbers in your head can be difficult. This method simplifies the process by rounding the numbers to a multiple of 10. Here is an example using 644 + 238:

  • Round each number up: 644 becomes 650 and 238 becomes 240.
  • Add the rounded numbers: 650 + 240 = 890.
  • Find how much you added to round up: 650 - 644 = 6 and 240 - 238 = 2.
  • Add those together: 6 + 2 = 8.
  • Subtract that from your total: 890 - 8 = 882.
  • So the answer to 644 + 238 is 882.
882

12. Subtracting from 1,000

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

For example, 1,000 - 556:

  • Subtract 5 from 9 = 4
  • Subtract 5 from 9 = 4
  • Subtract 6 from 10 = 4
  • The answer is 444.
444

13. Multiplying 5 times any number

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

💡 Example 1: 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
20
💡 Example 2: When multiplying an odd number times 5, the formula is a bit different.
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.
5 x 3 = 15
15

14. Division tricks

Here's a quick trick in math to know when a number can be evenly divided by certain numbers:

  • 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 the digits add up to a number evenly divisible by 3
  • 5 if it ends in a 0 or 5
  • 4 if it ends in 00, or the last two digits form a number evenly divisible by 4
  • 3 when the digits are added together and the result is evenly divisible by 3
  • 2 if it ends in 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8

15. Tough multiplication

When multiplying large numbers, if one of the numbers is even, halve the even number and double the other. This method solves the problem quickly.

💡 Example: For instance, consider 20 x 120.
Step 1: Divide the 20 by 2, which equals 10. Double 120, which equals 240.
Step 2: Multiply your two answers together: 10 x 240 = 2400.
The answer to 20 x 120 is 2,400.
2400
📥 Tricks are fun. Speed comes from practice.

You have 15 shortcuts; now build the muscle memory. Try a free Cuemath mental-math worksheet, the first couple are open to everyone, no strings. Full worksheet sets are free with a quick account.

Conclusion

Math tricks are a great way to make math fun! Your child will be able to do complex calculations without the aid of a calculator, using their mental abilities.

With regular practice, students will quickly get the hang of these mental math tricks. Math tricks are highly educational and will make your children more confident with numbers than ever before!

Want your child doing math like this, every day?

These tricks build confidence; a Cuemath tutor turns that into real number sense, one 1:1 class at a time. Book a free trial, no credit card needed.

Book a Free Class

For Students in Grades K to 12