Easy mental squaring tricks

Squaring numbers between 40 and 60.

Prerequisites: One should remember squares of numbers up to 9

1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81,

Steps

Note 1: Take 50 as the reference

1. Subtract 50 from the given number.

Note2: This number is +ve or negative as the number is more or less

than 50.

2. Find the square of this number and get the least significant two
digits.

Note 3: If the difference is less than 4 then the two occupied digits
shoulld be 01, 04 or 09.

3. Add or subtract the difference to 25 and get the last two digits of
the square.

Example1: Find the square of 47

47

Step1 gives the difference as -3

Step 2 gives the first two digits of the square as 09

Step 3 gives the last two digits of the square as 25 -3 = 22

And the result is 2209.

 472 = 2209

Example2: Find the square of 56

Step1 gives the difference as +6

Step 2 gives the first two digits of the square as 36

Step 3 gives the last two digits of the square as 25 +6 = 31

And the result is 3136.

562 = 3136

Squaring numbers less than 40 and more than 60

Prerequisites: One should remember squares from 10 to 25.

The same steps are to be followed but this time the difference is more
than 10 and the square of the difference is a three digit number. Just
take the hundreds digit as carry and add to the result of step 3.

Example3: Find the square of 38

Step 1 gives the difference as -12

(-12)2 = 144

First two digits are 44

the last two digits are 25 -12 +1 ( carry) = 14

the result is 1444

382 = 1444
 Example4: Find the square of 63

Step 1 gives the difference as 13

132 = 169

First two digits are 69

the last two digits are 25 +13 +1 ( carry) = 39

the result is 3969

632 = 3969

Squaring numbers close to 100

Numbers between 90 and 110

Note 1: Take 100 as the reference

1. Subtract 100 from the given number.

Note2: This number is +ve or negative as the number is more or less

than 100.

2. Find the square of this number and get the least significant two
digits.

Note 3: If the difference is less than 4 then the two occupied digits
should be 01, 04 or 09.

3. Add or subtract the difference to the number itself ( unlike 25 in

the previous case) and get the last two digits of the square.

Example5: Find the square of 93

Step1 gives the difference as -7

Step 2 gives the first two digits of the square as 49

Step 3 gives the last two digits of the square as 93 -7 = 86

And the result is 8649.

The square of 93 is 8649

Example6: 104

Step1 gives the difference as 4

Step 2 gives the first two digits of the square as 16

Step 3 gives the last two digits of the square as 104 +4 = 108

And the result is 10816.

The square of 104 is 10816

Example7: 86

Step 1 gives the difference with 100 as -14

142 = 196

First two digits are 96

the last two digits are 86-14 +1 ( carry) = 73

the result is 7396

862 = 7396
 Squaring numbers close to 200

Numbers between 190 and 210

Note 1: Take 200 as the reference

1. Subtract 200 from the given number.

Note2: This number is +ve or negative as the number is more or less

than 200.

2. Find the square of this number and get the least significant two
digits.

Note 3: If the difference is less than 4 then the two occupied digits
should be 01, 04 or 09.

3. Add or subtract the difference to the number itself multiply the

result by 2 and get the remaining digits of the square.

Example8: Find the square of 193

Step1 gives the difference with 200 as -7

Step 2 gives the first two digits of the square as 49

Step 3 gives the remaining digits of the square as 2*(193 -7) = 372

And the result is 37249.

The square of 193 is 37249

Example9: 204

Step1 gives the difference with 200 as 4

 Step 2 gives the first two digits of the square as 16

Step 3 gives the remaining digits of the square as 2*(204 +4) = 416

And the result is 41616.

The square of 204 is 41616

Example10: 186

Step 1 gives the difference with 200 as -14

142 = 196

First two digits are 96

the remaining digits are 2*(186-14) +1 ( carry) = 345

the result is 34596

1862 = 34596

Squaring numbers close to 300

Numbers between 290 and 310

Note 1: Take 300 as the reference

1. Subtract 300 from the given number.

Note2: This number is +ve or negative as the number is more or less

than 300.

2. Find the square of this number and get the least significant two
digits.
Note 3: If the difference is less than 4 then the two occupied digits
should be 01, 04 or 09.

3. Add or subtract the difference to the number itself multiply the

result by 3 and get the remaining digits of the square.

Example8: Find the square of 293

Step1 gives the difference with 200 as -7

Step 2 gives the first two digits of the square as 49

Step 3 gives the remaining digits of the square as 3*(293 -7) = 858

And the result is 85849.

The square of 293 is 85849

Example9: 304

Step1 gives the difference with 300 as 4

Step 2 gives the first two digits of the square as 16

Step 3 gives the remaining digits of the square as 3*(304 +4) = 924

And the result is 92416.

The square of 304 is 92416

Example10: Find the square of 286

Step 1 gives the difference with 200 as -14

142 = 196
 First two digits are 96

the remaining digits are 3*(286-14) +1 ( carry) = 3*272 +1 = 817

the result is 81796

2862 = 81796

This leads to a simple generalisation for numbers close to nth

100.

e.g. : with 400 as the base the multiplier is 4. With 600 as the
base 6 is the multiplier. Students should try to generalise the
rule and verify the result with the calculator for themselves.

For Number close to 500 a method similar to the one for 50 can
be extended.

Squaring numbers between 490 and 510.

Prerequisites: One should remember squares of numbers upto 9

1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81,

Steps

Note 1: Take 500 as the reference

1. Subtract 500 from the given number.

Note2: This number is +ve or negative as the number is more or less

than 50.

2. Find the square of this number and get the least significant three
digits.
 Note 3: If the difference is less than 4 then the three occupied
digits should be 001, 004 or 009.

3. Add or subtract the difference to 250 and get the remaining digits
of the square.

Example1: Find the square of 497

497

Step1 gives the difference with 500 as -3

Step 2 gives the first three digits of the square as 009

Step 3 gives the last two digits of the square as 250 -3 = 247

And the result is 247009.

4972 = 247009

Example2: Find the square of 506

Step1 gives the difference as +6

Step 2 gives the first two digits of the square as 036

Step 3 gives the last two digits of the square as 250 +6 = 256

And the result is 256036.

5062 = 256036

Squaring numbers less than 490 and more than 510

Prerequisites: One should remember squares from 10 to 25.

 The same steps are to be followed but this time the difference is more
than 10 and the square of the difference is a three digit number.
Example3: Find the square of 488

Step 1 gives the difference as -12

(-12)2 = 144

First three digits are 144

the remaining digits are 250 -12 = 238

the result is 238144

4882 = 238144

Example4: Find the square of 513

Step 1 gives the difference as 13

132 = 169

First three digits are 169

the remaining digits are 250 +13 = 263

the result is 263169

5132 = 263169

***************************************************************

Some general techniques

Start with a very simple case of squaring numbers of the form

10x +5

The square is simply 100x(x+1) +25 which helps writing the square
instantly.

Examples

152 = 225 obtained by writing 25 and prefixing it with 1*(1+1) =2

652 = 4225 obtained by writing 25 and prefixing it with 6*(6+1) =42

1052 = 11025 obtained by writing 25 and prefixing it with 10*(10+1) =110

Having found an easy trick for squaring numbers ending in 5 we can

find the square of other numbers as follows like for numbers ending in 6.

(10x +6)2 = (10x +5)2 + (10x +5) + (10x +6)

The first part on the right side can be evaluated by the previous trick and
then what remains is to add (10x +5) and then (10x +6).

Example: 362 = 352 +35 +36 = 1225 +35 +36 = 1296

Example: 962 = 952 +95 +96 = 9025 +95 +96 = 9216

Having found an easy trick for squaring numbers ending in 5 we can

find the square of other numbers as follows like for numbers ending in 4.

(10x +4)2 = (10x +5)2 - (10x +5) - (10x +4)

The first part on the right side can be evaluated by the previous trick and
then what remains is to subtract (10x +5) and then (10x +4).

Example: 342 = 352 -35 -34 = 1225 -35 -34 = 1156

Example: 942 = 952 -95 -94 = 9025 -189 = 8836

Note: There are better tricks to find square of numbers close to 100
explained in coming pages.

Having found an easy trick for squaring numbers ending in 5 we can

also find the square of other numbers as follows like for numbers ending
in 3.

(10x +3)2 = (10x +5)2 -4*(10x+4)

The first part on the right side can be evaluated by the previous trick and
then what remains is to subtract twice (10x +4) .

Example: 332 = 352 -4*34 = 1225 -136 = 1089

Example: 932 = 952 -4*94 = 9025 -476 = 8649

Having found an easy trick for squaring numbers ending in 5 we can

find the square of other numbers as follows like for numbers ending in 7.

(10x +7)2 = (10x +5)2 + 4* (10x +6)

The first part on the right side can be evaluated easily and then what
remains is to add 4 times (10x +6).

Example: 372 = 352 + 4*36 = 1225 + 144 = 1369

Example: 972 = 952 + 4*96 = 9025 + 384 = 9409

For numbers of the type 10x +1 the method is

(10x+1)2 = 100x2 + 10x + (10x +1)

312 = 302 + 30 + 31 = 961

912 = 902 + 90 + 91 = 8100 + 181 = 8281

For numbers of the type 10x +2

(10x+2)2 = 100x2 + 4(10x +1)

422 = 402 + 4*(41) = 1600 + 164 = 1764

822 = 802 + 4*(81) = 6400 + 324 = 6724

For numbers of the type 10x -1 the method is

(10x-1)2 = 100x2 -10x -(10x +1)

292 = 302 - 30 - 29 = 841

892 = 902 - 90 - 89 = 8100 - 179 = 7921

For numbers of the type 10x -2

(10x-2)2 = 100x2 - 4(10x +1)

382 = 402 - 4*(39) = 1600 -156 = 1444

782 = 802 - 4*(79) = 6400 - 316 = 6084

Note: Suitable trick is chosen as per whether the unit place is

smaller than 5 and close to 5 or 0 else the unit place is larger
than 5 and close to 5 or 10.
BEAUTIFUL NUMBER PATTERNS

1x8+1=9
12 x 8 + 2 = 98
123 x 8 + 3 = 987
1234 x 8 + 4 = 9876
12345 x 8 + 5 = 98765
123456 x 8 + 6 = 987654
1234567 x 8 + 7 = 9876543
12345678 x 8 + 8 = 98765432
123456789 x 8 + 9 = 987654321

1 x 9 + 2 = 11
12 x 9 + 3 = 111
123 x 9 + 4 = 1111
1234 x 9 + 5 = 11111
12345 x 9 + 6 = 111111
123456 x 9 + 7 = 1111111
1234567 x 9 + 8 = 11111111
12345678 x 9 + 9 = 111111111
123456789 x 9 +10= 1111111111

9 x 9 + 7 = 88
98 x 9 + 6 = 888
987 x 9 + 5 = 8888
9876 x 9 + 4 = 88888
98765 x 9 + 3 = 888888
987654 x 9 + 2 = 8888888
9876543 x 9 + 1 = 88888888
98765432 x 9 + 0 = 888888888

And finally, take a look at this symmetry:

1x1=1
11 x 11 = 121
111 x 111 = 12321
1111 x 1111 = 1234321
11111 x 11111 = 123454321
111111 x 111111 = 12345654321
1111111 x 1111111 = 1234567654321
11111111 x 11111111 = 123456787654321
111111111 x 111111111=12345678987654321
 Leibnitz sequ

1 4 9 16 25 3
3 5 7 9 11
2 2 2 2

1 8 27 64 125
7 19
Moessners
37 61
Ma
12 18 24 30
1 2 3 4 566 7 8
6 9 10611 12

1 4 9 16 25 36

From 2n to n2 !
 Moessners Ma

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
1 3 6 11 17 24 33 43 54
1 4 15 32 65 108
Moessners Magic
1 16 81

From 4n to n4!
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

2 6 11 18 26 35 46 58 71

6 24 50 96 154 225

24 120 274
120
 New mental arithmetic techniques/tricks

AMARNATH MURTHY

CHIEF ENGINEER (ELEX & TELCOM)

ONGC, AHMEDABAD, INDIA

Fifth root of a 10 digit numbers which are perfect fifth

powers.

First we have to list and memorise the fifth power of numbers

from 1 to 9.

1 , 32, 243, 1024, 3125, 7776, 16807, 32768, 59049

The beauty is the unit digit is the same. A^5 A mod 10. ( A
=1 to 9)

Consider an up to 10 digit number as a fifth power of a two

digit number.

If the number has n digits n <= 10, consider the number

formed by the n-5 MSDs ( most significant digits). Let it be N

Find numbers r and r +1 such that r^5 < N < (r +1)^5.

Let the unit digit of the given number be a.

Then digit r followed by digit a is the required fifth root.

Example : find the fifth root of 656356768 .

The unit digit of the fifth root is 8.

Leaving first five digits we have 6563.

5^5 = 3125 < 6563 < 7776 = 6^5 hence the tens digit is 5

The answer is 58. In fact one need not know the digit 2nd to 5th .

i.e. if the perfect fifth power number given is 6563 _ _ _ _8 ,

still one can find the fifth root.
Fifth root of a 15 digit number

Finding the fifth root of a 15 digit number involves the

knowledge of some more concepts in mathematics. i.e.
modular arithmetic.

Number N N^5 N^5 mod 9 N^5 mod 11

1 1
2 32
3 243
4 1024
5 3125
6 7776
7 16807
8 32768
9 59049
Multiple of 11 - -
1 1
5 10
9 1
7 1
2 1
9 10
4 10
8 10
9 1
11 **

Just remember that

1. Mod 9 values for 1 , 8 and 9 are the same (1,8,9)

2. Mod 9 value for 2 is 5 , 5 is 2 , 4 is 7 and 7 is 4.

3. Mod 9 values for 3, 6 and 9 is 9. This creates the problem

and one can not uniquely find the number ( the fifth root).
Mod 11 values for 3, 6, 9 come to the rescue with some
intelligent estimation.

Example1:

49420005843968

Step1. Make groups of five digit numbers from the right.

4942 00058 43968

Step 2. The first group gives unit digit 8.

 Step3. Consider the last group 4942.

It lies between 3125 and 7776 i.e. 5^5 and 6^5.

Hence the third digit is 5.

What remains is to find the middle digit. Let it be A.

The required number is 5A8.

Step4. Find 49420005843968 mod 9 i.e. the digital root of

the number. Go on summing the digits till one arrives at a
single digit number. Or by casting out 9 from
49420005843968 we get 8.

8 corresponds to 8 from the table.

Hence 5A8 mod 9 = 8 which gives 5 + A + 8 = 17 => X = 4.

And the answer is 548.

Note1: The question that may arise in ones mind is, as to

why the sum is chosen as 17 and why not 26. The answer is
simple; A is a single digit number. In case of a number like
9A9 with mod 9 value as 8 the obvious choice for the sum
is 26. 9+A+9 =26 which would have given A =8.

Note2: In this case the mod 9 value is other than 9 hence the
need to examine mod 11 does not arise. Let us take another
example.

Example 2: 58602385427607

Step1: group the numbers as below.

5860 23854 27607

The first group on the right gives unit digit as 7.

Step 2.

5860 lies between 3125= 5^5 and 7776= 6^5. This gives
the last digit as 5.

Let the middle digit be A

Then the number is 5A7.

Step3

Find the mod 9 value for 58602385427607. This comes out

to be 9.

9 corresponds to 3, 6 or 9 in the table.

There are three possibilities

5A7 mod 9 = 3 A = 0 or 9 suggesting 507 or 597

5A7 mod 9 = 6 A = 3 suggesting 537

5A7 mod 9 = 9 A = 6 suggesting 567.

From here there are two methods

First method ( an intelligent guess).This requires a good

number sense.

Consider 5860. It lies almost half way through 3125 and

7776.( slightly on a higher side at about 60%). The intuitional
guess suggests that 567 should be the answer.

Note; The most significant 4 digits would be closer to 3125

in 507^5 and to 7776 in 597^5.

507^5 = 33499613519307,

597^5 = 75835343042757

Second method:

This method does not leave scope for any confusion or

ambiguity.

Consider the mod 11 value of 58602385427607

Sum (1st digit +3rd digit +... ) Sum (2nd digit + 4th digit
+ ...)

(7 +6 +2+5 + 3+0+8) (0+7+4+8+2+6+5) = 31 32 =

-10 -10 +11 1
With mod 9 value as 9 and mod 11 value as 1 the two
possibilities are ( 3 and 9) ;507 and 567 which clearly
suggests 567 as the right choice for 5860 is more close to
7776 than to 3125.

Note: In case the number is a multiple of 11 so would be the

fifth root and to solve for A the middle digit, use the equation

first digit + third digit = A+11

Finding out the seventh root of 14 and 21 digit

numbers.

Number N N^7 Mod 9 Mod 11

1 1 1 1
2 128 2 7
3 2187 9 9
4 16384 4 5
5 78125 5 3
6 279936 9 8
7 823543 7 6
8 2097152 8 2
9 4782969 9 4
Multiple of 11 - - 11
First one has to memorise this table which is not very
difficult after some practice. No need for learning it by heart.

1. The unit digits are

1 1, 28,37, 44, 55, 6 6, 73, 82, 99

The same as those for cubes.

2. The beauty of mod 9 values is one has N^7 mod 9 N,

except for numbers 3,6, and 9.

3. The mod 11 values are unique.

Hence considering mod 11 values suffices.

Note: It is advisable to check for mod 9 values first. If it

does not come out to be 9 then the solution is immediate
 else either intelligent guess might work or in the worst
case one has to go for mod 11 values.

For up to 14 digit number one need not even need

or remember the 7th power of 1 to 9.

Example1:

2207984167552

The unit digit is 8. Let the tens digit be A.

The number required is A8.

2207984167552 mod 11 can be obtained as the

difference of alternate digit ( odd even) sums.

2207984167552 mod 11 = 9 which corresponds to 3

A8 mod 11 = 3 which gives A = 5 ( simply by testing for

18,28,38,48,58,68,...etc)

And the seventh root is 58.

For more than 15 digit one has to remember the 7th

power of 1 to 9.

Example2:

14652484962038521963

Step 1: group the numbers in set of 7 digits from he right.

146524 8496203 8521963

The fist group gives unit digit as 7

146524 lies between 78125= 5^7 and 279936 = 6^7

Hence third digit is 5

Let the middle digit be A then the required numbers is 5A7.

N = 14652484962038521963
N mod 9 = 7 and the number corresponding to it is 7

Hence 5A7 mod 9 = 7. 5 +A +7 = 16 giving A = 4.

And the required 7th root is 547.

The technique works for cube roots as well.

9th root of 27 digit numbers.

Number N N^9 N^9 mod 9 N^9 mod 11

1 1
2 512
3 19683
4 262144
5 1953125
6 10077696
7 40353607
8 134217728
9 387420489
Multiple of - -
11
1 1
8 6
9 4
1 3
8 9
9 2
1 8
8 7
9 5
0

Unit digits directly follow.

The mod 9 values are not useful.

Mod 11 values are all different. Hence it is easy to uniquely

identify the number.

For an 18 digit number it is not required to even memorise

the 9th powers of numbers 1 through 9.

Number N N^11 N^11 mod 9 N^11 mod 11

1 1
2 2048
3 177147
4 4194304
5 48828125
6 362797056
7 1977326743
8 8589934592
9 31381059609
Multiple of 11 - -
1 1
5 2
9 3
7 4
2 5
9 6
4 7
8 8
9 9
0
For up to a 22 digit number perfect 11th power, one
need not require to know or remember the 11th power
of 1 to 9 to find out the 11th root. And the beauty is
that the mod 11 values are identical to the number
itself.

Example1: 313726685568359708377

Unit digit is obviously 3.

Let the tens digit be A

A3 mod 11 = 313726685568359708377 mod 11 = 7

The 11th root is 73.

Example 2: 30155888444737842659

Unit digit is 9. Let the tens digit be A.

A9 mod 11 = 30155888444737842659 mod 11 = 4

That gives A = 5 and the 11th root is 59.

There are easy vedic methods to multiply numbers close to
100 or 1000 etc. By choosing appropriate bases. But these
method loses its advantage for numbers in between like 46*
58.

Here is another method which is general and more suitable for

better estimates. If no rounding off is applied the method gives
correct answers.

We can use the identities

1. A*B = (A+x)* (B B*x/(A+x))

2. A*B = (A-x)* (B + B*x/(A-x)).

The following example will explain it better.

489*512 ...... choose x = 11

= 500*( 512 - 512*11/500)

= 500*(512 -5632 /500) ---- >> using short cut for

multiplication by 11

=500*(512- 11.264)

= 500*(500.736) (divide by 2)

= 250368 (halve the right member and remove the

decimal point)

Alternately using the second formula

512*489 choose x = 12.

=500*( 489 + 489*12/500)

=500*(489 + 5868/500) using short cut for

multiplication By 12
=500*( 489 +11.736)

=500*500.736 (halves the right member and removes

the decimal point.)

=250368

This method is more suitable for rounding off estimates for

multiplication of say numbers like 4.89 * 5.12 up to two
decimal places.

Let us try some rounding off techniques and check the

error.

4.89*5.12

Step one find out 489*512

489*512

= 500 * (512- 512*11/500)

= 500*(512 -5632 /500)

= 500*(512 -5600 /500) roughly

500* (512- 11.2)

500*500.8

=25040

Approx. Value = 25.040

The correct value is 25.0368

Example1:

3.84* 8.57

= 400* ( 857 857*16/400) choosing x = 16

 =400* (857 857/25) multiply by 4 and place the decimal
accordingly

= 400* (857 -34.28)

= 400* 821.72

= 400* 822

328800

32.88

The right answer is 400* 82172/10000 =32.9088.

example 3:

988*456

Choose x = 12

= 1000*(456 456*12/1000)

= 1000* ( 456 5472/1000)

= 1000* (456 5.472)

= 1000*450.528

= 450528

Multiply two digit numbers with 9

AB > AA THEN

AB*9 = A_ X_ (10-B) where X is obtained by the equation

A + X + ( 10-B) = 9K, K = 1 or 2.

If AB < = AA then 9AB = (A-1)_ X_ (10-B) and X is obtained by

(A-1) + X + ( 10-B) = 9K, K = 1 or 2.

Example1:

48*9

48 > 44 hence hundreds digit is 4

10-8 = 2 unit digit is 2

Let the middle digit be A

4A2 is the number and A = 9 4-2 = 3

48*9 = 432.

Example2:

87*9

87< 88 hence hundres digit is 8-1 = 7

Unit digit = 10-7 = 3, Let middle digit be A

The number is 7A3 in which 7 + A + 3 = 18 A = 8

87*9 = 783.

Multiplying by 9 (general method)

Example 1: 548*9

Technique: Unit digit is 10-unit of multiplicand.

One borrowed from tens digit mandatorily.

For rest of the digits

borrow one from the left if needed and then subtract the left

Unit place 10- 8

Tens place 7-4 = 3

Hundreds place 14-5 = 9

One borrowed from 5 hence

Last digit is 4

The answer is 548*9 = 4932.

Example 2: 666*9

Unit place 10 6 =4

Tens place 15-6 = 9

Hundreds place 15-6 = 9

Last digit 6-1 = 5

Answer is 5994 = 666*9

Example 3: 12345678*9

10-8=2, 7-7 = 0, 7-6 = 1, 6-5=1, 5-4 =1, 4-3=1, 3-2=1, 2-1=1,

and 1-0 = 1

111111102