Tricks in mathematics

1. Math Magic Trick

Here's a really cool Math Magic Trick that kids can use to impress family and friends and build basic
math skills too! You'll find lots of other math tricks here as well so have fun and learn some math
along the way.
Materials: 5 dice
Performing the Trick:
Tell the spectator that you can see through the dice all the way to the bottom numbers.
Roll all 5 dice on table.
Pretend that you are looking through the dice to see the bottom numbers. (What you are actually
doing is adding up the top numbers of all 5 dice.)
Then you will announce the sum of the bottom numbers. (All you have to do is subtract the sum of
the numbers you added in your mind from the top from 35.)
Then turn over the 5 dice and have the spectator add the numbers of top numbers. They will be
amazed at how you did it!
How the Trick works:
On any die, the sum of the top number and the bottom number is 7. So for example, if you toss
one die and the top number of the die is a 3, the number at the bottom of the die will be a 4, since
4 + 3 = 7.
So if you throw out 5 dice, the total of all the top and bottom numbers will be:
5 x 7 = 35

2.) Pick Pocket Math Number Trick

This Pick Pocket Math Number Trick helps kids get practice with addition, subtraction, and
multiplication all in one shot!
Really impress friends and family by correctly guessing the amount of change they have in their
pockets!
The math behind the trick works every time so you will guess right all the time. Ready! Let's go!
What You Need:
Find a volunteer to work your math magic on.
Make sure your volunteer has some change in their pocket. But they do not reveal it to you..
Paper
Pencil
What To Do:
Have your volunteer multiply their age by two.
Then they will add five.
Now multiply the previous sum by fifty.
Subtract 365.
Add the amount of pocket change, but do NOT count any change that is over $1.
Add 115. Notice that the first two digits will be the person's age, and the last two digits are the
amount of the person's pocket change.
3.) The 11 Times Trick

We all know the trick when multiplying by ten – add 0 to the end of the number, but did you know
there is an equally easy trick for multiplying a two digit number by 11? This is it:

Take the original number and imagine a space between the two digits (in this example we will use
52:
5_2
Now add the two numbers together and put them in the middle:
5_ (5+2) _2
That is it – you have the answer: 572.
If the numbers in the middle add up to a 2 digit number, just insert the second number and add 1
to the first:
9_(9+9)_9
(9+1)_8_9
10_8_9
1089 – It works every time.

4.) Quick Square

If you need to square a 2 digit number ending in 5, you can do so very easily with this trick.
Mulitply the first digit by itself + 1, and put 25 on the end. That is all!
252 = (2x (2+1)) & 25
2x3=6
625

5.) Multiply by 5

Most people memorize the 5 times tables very easily, but when you get in to larger numbers it gets
more complex – or does it? This trick is super easy.
Take any number, then divide it by 2 (in other words, halve the number). If the result is whole, add
a 0 at the end. If it is not, ignore the remainder and add a 5 at the end. It works everytime:
2682 x 5 = (2682 / 2) & 5 or 0
2682 / 2 = 1341 (whole number so add 0)
13410
Let’s try another:
5887 x 5
2943.5 (fractional number (ignore remainder, add 5)
29435
6.) Multiply by 9
This one is simple – to multiple any number between 1 and 9 by 9 hold both hands in front of your
face – drop the finger that corresponds to the number you are multiplying (for example 9×3 – drop
your third finger) – count the fingers before the dropped finger (in the case of 9×3 it is 2) then
count the numbers after (in this case 7) – the answer is 27.

7.) Multiply by 4
This is a very simple trick which may appear obvious to some, but to others it is not. The trick is to
simply multiply by two, then multiply by two again:

58 x 4 = (58 x 2) + (58 x 2) = (116) + (116) = 232

8.) Calculate a Tip

If you need to leave a 15% tip, here is the easy way to do it. Work out 10% (divide the number by
10) – then add that number to half its value and you have your answer:
15% of $25 = (10% of 25) + ((10% of 25) / 2)
$2.50 + $1.25 = $3.75

9.) Tough Multiplication

If you have a large number to multiply and one of the numbers is even, you can easily subdivide to
get to the answer:

32 x 125, is the same as:

16 x 250 is the same as:
8 x 500 is the same as:
4 x 1000 = 4,000

10.) Dividing by 5

Dividing a large number by five is actually very simple. All you do is multiply by 2 and move the
decimal point:
195 / 5
Step1: 195 * 2 = 390
Step2: Move the decimal: 39.0 or just 39
2978 / 5
step 1: 2978 * 2 = 5956
Step2: 595.6

11.) Subtracting from 1,000

To subtract a large number from 1,000 you can use this basic rule: subtract all but the last number
from 9, and then subtract the last number from 10:
1000
-648
step1: subtract 6 from 9 = 3
step2: subtract 4 from 9 = 5
step3: subtract 8 from 10 = 2

Answer: 352
12.) Multiply Up to 20X20 In Your Head
In just FIVE minutes you should learn to quickly multiply up to 20x20 in your head. With this trick,
you will be able to multiply any two numbers from 11 to 19 in your head quickly, without the use
of a calculator.
I will assume that you know your multiplication table reasonably well up to 10x10.
Try this:
Take 15 x 13 for an example.
Always place the larger number of the two on top in your mind.
Then draw the shape of Africa mentally so it covers the 15 and the 3 from the 13 below. Those
covered numbers are all you need.
First add 15 + 3 = 18
Add a zero behind it (multiply by 10) to get 180.
Multiply the covered lower 3 x the single digit above it the "5" (3x5= 15)
Add 180 + 15 = 195.

13.) The 11 Rule

You likely all know the 10 rule (to multiply by 10, just add a 0 behind the number) but do you know
the 11 rule? It is as easy! You should be able to do this one in your head for any two digit number.
Practice it on paper first!
To multiply any two digit number by 11:
For this example we will use 54.
Separate the two digits in your mind (5__4).
Notice the hole between them!
Add the 5 and the 4 together (5+4=9)
Put the resulting 9 in the whole 594. That's it! 11 x 54=594
The only thing tricky to remember is that if the result of the addition is greater than 9, you only put
the "ones" digit in the hole and carry the "tens" digit from the addition. For example 11 x 57 ...
5__7 ... 5+7=12 ... put the 2 in the hole and add the 1 from the 12 to the 5 in to get 6 for a result of
627 ... 11 x 57 = 627
Practice it on paper first!

14.) Finger Math: 9X Rule

To multiply by 9, try this:

(1) Spread your two hands out and place them on a desk or table in front of you.

(2) To multiply by 3, fold down the 3rd finger from the left. To multiply by 4, it would be the
4th finger and so on.

(3) The answer is 27 ... READ it from the two fingers on the left of the folded down finger and
the 7 fingers on the right of it.

This works for anything up to 9x10!

15.) Square a 2 Digit Number Ending in 5

For this example we will use 25 Take the "tens" part of the number (the 2 and add 1) =3
Multiply the original "tens" part of the number by the new number (2x3)
Take the result (2x3=6) and put 25 behind it. Result the answer 625.

Try a few more 75 squared ... = 7x8=56 ... put 25 behind it is 5625.
55 squared = 5x6=30 ... put 25 behind it ... is 3025. Another easy one!
Practice it on paper first!

16.) Square 2 Digit Number: UP-DOWN Method

Square a 2 Digit Number, for this example 37: Look for the nearest 10 boundary
In this case up 3 from 37 to 40.
Since you went UP 3 to 40 go DOWN 3 from 37 to 34.
Now mentally multiply 34x40
The way I do it is 34x10=340;
Double it mentally to 680
Double it again mentally to 1360
This 1360 is the FIRST interim answer.
37 is "3" away from the 10 boundary 40.
Square this "3" distance from 10 boundary.
3x3=9 which is the SECOND interim answer?
Add the two interim answers to get the final answer.
Answer: 1360 + 9 = 1369
With practice this can easily be done in your head.

17.) Quickly Add A Consecutive List of Numbers

Example: Add all numbers from 1 to 20.
Note: This is also known as the summation of a series of numbers.
Add the first and last number.
Divide result by 2.
Multiply result by the total of numbers in the list.
Applied Example: Add all numbers from 4 to 10.
4 + 10 = 14.
14 / 2 = 7.

7 X 7 = 49 (Since 4 to 10 involves 7 numbers).Example: Add all numbers from 1 to 20.

Note: This is also known as the summation of a series of numbers.

Add the first and last number.

Divide result by 2.
Multiply result by the total of numbers in the list.

Applied Example: Add all numbers from 4 to 10.

4 + 10 = 14.
14 / 2 = 7.
7 X 7 = 49 (Since 4 to 10 involves 7 numbers).
18.) Squaring A Number That Ends In 5 -- Super-FAST!
Takes less That 10 Seconds.
Multiply the first digit of the number by itself plus 1.
Insert the number "25" to the end of the result.

Example 1: The Square of 15.

The first digit of 15 is "1", therefore multiply 1 X (1 + 1), or 1 X 2. The result is 2.
Insert "25" at the end of the number. In this case, the result becomes 2...25, or "225".
Example 2: The Square of 45.
The first digit is "4", therefore 4 X 5 = 20.
Insert "25" at the end of "20" to arrive at "2025".

19.) Addition and Subtraction

Adding and subtracting large numbers in your head becomes easier when you break numbers
down in to manageable parts.
For example, to find 78 + 57,
Break the numbers down in to 70 + 8 and 50 + 7.
Add 70 and 50 to get 120, and then add 8 and 7 to get 15. Adding 120 + 15 gives you the answer of
135.The same concept applies to subtraction problems as well.

20.) How many hours are there in 660 minutes?

? × 60 = 660 minutes where? Represents number of hours

Just divide 660 by 60
660 ÷ 60 = 11, so there are 11 hours in 660 minutes

21.) How many meters are there in 550 centimeters?

1 meter = 100 centimeters

? × 100 = 550 centimeters where? Represents number of meters
Just divide 550 by 100
550 ÷ 100 = 5.5, so there are 5.5 meters in 550 centimeters

22.) In one night, a movie theater sells tickets for 6450 dollars. Each ticket costs 15 dollars. How
many people purchased a ticket?

? × 15 = 6450 where the question mark represents the number of people who purchased a ticket.
6450 ÷ 15 = 430, so 430 people purchased a ticket.

23.) Squaring any two digit number ending in five

35 × 35
The digit in the tens place is 3
Multiply 3 by its next higher digit, which is 4
3 × 4 = 12
Write down 12 and put 25 next to it
The answer is 1225
24.) 55 × 55

The digit in the tens place is 5

Multiply 5 by its next higher digit, which are 6
5 × 6 = 30
Write down 30 and put 25 next to it
The answer is 3025.

25.) 95 × 95

The digit in the tens place is 9

Multiply 9 by its next higher digit, which is 10
9 × 10 = 90
Write down 90 and put 25 next to it
The answer is 9025

Mental Math

1.) Adding Nine or Eight: Counting Down from 10

Another arithmetic pattern you surely know is how to add 10 to a number. An example of this is
2+10 is 12, or 6+10 is 16. We can use this pattern to help us add 9 or 8. Since 9 is one less than 10,
you can always add nine to something by adding 10 to the number instead and then counting
down one. For instance to find 9+7, you can add 10+7, which is 17, and then count down to
16.Similarly with adding 8 to a number, you can also add 10, and then count down 2 numbers. So
for instance, 8+7 can be found by adding 10+7 which is 17, and then counting down 2, which is 15.
If you are good with knowing you’re even and odd numbers, you can also use a similar pattern as
was explained with adding 2, by just going down one even or odd number

2.) Doubling and Nearly Doubling

You may already be good at doubling numbers, such as 2+2. When doubling a number, you are
doing the same thing as multiplying by 2. This also means, that if you have learned to count by
numbers, such as counting by 4's, you know that it is 4, 8, 12, 16... And thus 4+4 is 8.

Once you have become good at doubling, you can use this knowledge to add numbers that are
nearly double of each other, by just counting up or down by one. So for instance, 8+7 can be found
by adding 8+8, which is 16, and then counting down by 1, which is 15. (If it is easier, you could also
have done this by doing 7+7, which is 14, and then counting up 1 to 15.)

3.) Adding Fives

This technique is a little trickier than the others we have so far talked about, but with some
practice it might help you out. When adding 5 to another number, the goal is to "find the five
inside" the other number, and then add or subtract what is left. For instance when adding 5+8, you
could say that 8 is 5+3, so 5+8 is 5+5+3, or 13. Don't worry if you can't get this method, because
most of the time you can use one of the other methods that have been taught to find the answer.
4.) To Ten or Close
It is useful to memorize the patterns that add to 10 which are:
0+10
1+9
2+8
3+7
4+6
5+5
By knowing these patterns, if you see a pattern a little different you will know to go one higher or
lower. For instance, 4+7 has the 7 one higher than 6, so this must add up to 11, because 4+6=10 so
4+6+1=11.

5.) Summing Groups of Numbers by Finding Numbers that Add to Multiples of 10

A useful trick when adding lots of small numbers is to clump together the ones that adds up to
multiples of 10. For example, if you have to add 2 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 + 11 + 8, that can be rearranged as
(3 + 7) + (9 + 11) + (2 + 8) + 5 = 10 + 20 + 10 + 5 = 45.

This method is also useful when performing column addition with more than two numbers. For
example, in the problem:
56
35
47
21
12
32
+23
--- Column addition is generally performed by adding the digits in the ones place, carrying them
over, and then adding the digits in the tens place., and so on. A way to make this task easier is to
group the digits in the ones place in groups of ten, and mark them on your paper like this:

56
35
4 7\
21\
1 2 -- 10
32/
+2 3/
--- Similarly the 6, 2, and 2 would be crossed off, yielding another 10. Therefore the digits in the
ones place add up to 10+10+5+1 (what's left) or 26.

6.) Subtraction
A useful trick when subtracting numbers is to begin with the smaller value and mentally skip your
way up the difference, with jumping points at recognizable boundaries, such as powers of 10. For
example, to subtract 67 from 213 I would start with 67, and then add 3 + 30 + 100 + 13. Try this
once and you see how easy it is. Sounding out your thoughts it would be "three, thirty-three, one
hundred thirty-three plus the remaining 13 is one hundred forty-six".
 For example 1,000 - 258 we simply subtract each digit in 258 from 9 and the last digit from 10.
2 5 8
From 9 from 9 from 10
7 4 2

So the answer is 1,000 - 258 = 742

And that’s all there is to it!

This always works for subtractions from numbers consisting of a 1 followed by zeroes: 100; 1000;
10,000 etc.

A second method is to break up the number that you are subtracting. So instead of doing 1000-258
you would do 1000-250 and then subtract 8.

Another way of easily thinking of this method is to always subtract from 999 if subtracting from
1,000, and then adding 1 back. Same for 10,000, subtract from 9999 and add 1. For example, 1000-
555 = 999 - 555 + 1= 444 + 1 = 445

Similarly 10,000 - 1068 = (9999-1068)+1 = (8931)+1 =8932 So the answer is 10,000 - 1068 = 8932

For 1,000 - 86, in which we have more zeros than figures in the numbers being subtracted, we
simply suppose 86 is 086. So 1,000 - 86 becomes 1,000 - 086 = 914