← Return to Adventure Map

Mental Math Strategies

The Hook

Be a human calculator.

What is it?

Techniques to add without paper.

Time Travel (History)

Ramanujan could perform complex calculations instantly.

Cheat Code

Break numbers apart: 28 is just 20 + 8.

Practice This Now!

The Field Guide

In Plain English: Your brain likes easy numbers (ending in 0). If you have to add 19, just add 20 and subtract 1.

In The Real World: Checking if you have enough cash at the checkout line before you get embarrassed.

How To Do It

  1. Look for numbers close to 10 (like 9 or 8).
  2. Round them up.
  3. Add.
  4. Subtract the difference.

Booby Trap!

Forgetting to subtract the extra bit you added to make the number round.

Real World Challenge
"An item costs $19 and another costs $23. Estimate the total."
The Logic: Pretend 19 is 20. 20 + 23 is 43. Subtract the 1 you added. Total is 42.

Training Drills

Compensation
29 + 15 (30) + 15 = 45 45 - 1 = 44
Turn 29 into 30.
Decomposition
23 + 45 20 + 40 = 60 3 + 5 = 8 60 + 8 = 68
Add Tens, then Ones.