Math Tricks

Fast Math Made Easy

R. J. Clarke

Copyright © 2018 R. J. Clarke

All rights reserved.
 Contents

Finger Math Tricks

Finger Skip Counting
Finger 9 Times Table
Finger 6, 7, 8 , 9 And 10 Times Table
Finger Trigonometry

Multiplication Tricks
Friendlier 5 Times Table
Simpler 6 Times Table
Easy 11 Times Table
12 Times Tables And Beyond
Line Multiplication
Grid Multiplication
Ancient Egyptian Multiplication
Lattice Multiplication
Multiply 2 digit numbers by 9
Fast Multiplication Trick
Multiplication Near 100
Multiply Numbers With An Even Difference
Multiplying Two Digit Numbers

Squaring and CubingTricks

Squaring 2 Digit Numbers Ending in 5
Squaring 3 Digit Numbers
Cubing 2 Digit Numbers
 Division Tricks
Checking Dividable Numbers
Division By Subtracting
Dividing By 5
Dividing By 9

Addition Tricks
Addition By Grouping
Addition Without Carrying
Addition With Simple Counting
Addition Shortcut

Subtraction Tricks
Subtract By Adding
Subtracting By Rounding
Subtracting From 1000
Subtraction Without Borrowing
Super Easy Subtraction

Square and Cube Root Tricks

Quick Square Roots
Quick Cube Roots

Fraction and Percentage Tricks

Subtracting Fractions
Convert Fractions To Decimal
Convert Recurring Decimals To Fractions
Convert Fractions To Percentages
Percentages Made Easy
 Finger Math Tricks

Finger Skip Counting

Using your fingers to skip count is an effective way to do the times tables.
Start by holding both of your hands out. Then skip count in the first
multiple on your fingers. Then you stop skip counting once you reach the
finger that equals the second multiple
For example, if we wanted to find the answer to 5 x 7 we would keep
adding 5 on each finger and stop on the seventh finger to give the answer 35
 Finger 9 Times Table

The 9 times table from 1 to 10 can be done on your hands. Simply hold both
of your hands in front of you. Then imagine that each finger is numbered
from 1 to 10 with the left thumb representing 1 and the right thumb
representing 10. If 9 is multiplied by a number, bend the finger that
represents it. In the example below, 9 is multiplied by 4 so the fourth finger
is bent

To get the answer to 9 x 4, we count the fingers to the left of the bent finger.
There are 3 fingers and the answer is in the tens unit so this represents 30.
Next, we count the fingers on the right of the bent finger. There are 6
fingers and the answer is in the single units so this represents 6. Put the two
together and the answer is 36
 Finger 6, 7, 8 , 9 And 10 Times Table

The numbers 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 can be multiplied with each other using your
hands. Begin by holding your hands in front of you so that you can see your
palms. Then imagine that the fingers on each hand is numbered from 6 to
10 with 6 on the thumbs and 10 on the little fingers. If a number between 6
and 10 is multiplied by another number between 6 and 10, touch the fingers
together to represent them. In the example below, 8 is multiplied by 7 so
those fingers are touching

To get the answer to 8 x 7, we count the fingers that are touching as well as
those above. There are 5 fingers and the answer is in the tens units so this
represents 50. Next, we count the fingers below the touching fingers. There
are 2 on the left and 3 on the right. These need to be multiplied together so
2 x 3 = 6. The answer is in the single units so this represents 6. Put the two
together and the answer is 56
 Finger Trigonometry

To do basic trigonometry on your fingers, start by holding out your left

hand and imagine that each finger is numbered in degrees. The thumb
represents 90 o whilst the little finger represents 0 o . Then bend the finger
that corresponds to the degrees that you want to find out

To find the Sin, do the square root of the number of fingers below the bent
finger. Then divide by 2
Sin30 o = √ 1 ÷ 2
To find the Cos, do the square root of the number of fingers above the bent
finger. Then divide by 2
Cos30 o = √ 3 ÷ 2
Tan equals Sin divided by Cos. Therefore to find the Tan, do the square root
of the number of fingers below the bent finger. Then divide by the square
root of the number of fingers above the bent finger
Tan30 o = √ 1 ÷ √ 3
 Multiplication Tricks

Friendlier 5 Times Table

Halve the number that is being multiplied by 5.

Then add a zero on the end
For example:
26 x 5 = ?
26 = 13
2
Then add a zero on the end to give: 130

If there is an odd number being multiplied by 5, then you look at the

number below to make it an even number. Halve it and then add a five on
the end
For example:
23 x 5 = ?
22 = 11
2
Then add a five on the end to give: 115
 Simpler 6 Times Table

Any even number multiplied by 6 causes the last digit of the answer to be
the same
For example:
6 x2= 12
6 x4= 24
6 x6= 36

Now that we know how to find the last digit of the answer, it is time to learn
how to find the first digit of the answer. Start by halving the second number
so that would be 16 divided by 2 in the example below

Then add the first digit of the second number. In this example, the first digit
of 16 is 1 so this number needs to be added to 8
16 / 2 = 8
8 + 1 =9
The first digit of the answer is 9. We then put the first and second digits
together to give the final answer:
6 x 16 = 96
 Easy 11 Times Table

The easy way to do the 11 times table for small numbers from 1 to 9 is to
duplicate the first digit. For example:
3 x 11 = 33
4 x 11 = 44
5 x 11 = 55

With large numbers such as: 34 x 11 = ?

Split the first number in half. For example:
3_4
Then add both of the numbers together (3 + 4 = 7) and then this number
goes into the middle
Therefore the answer is 3 7 4

With large numbers such as: 57 x 11 = ?

Split the first number in half. For example:
5_7
5 + 7 = 12
The second digit of 12 stays in the middle.
The first digit is carried over and is added to the 5
Therefore the answer is 6 2 7
 12 Times Tables And Beyond

To multiply a number by 12, the first digit of the answer is the same as the
number it is being multiplied by. The other digits of the answer can be
found by multiplying by 2 (the second digit of 12) and then adding the next
digit to it from the right. For example:
321 x 12 = ?
1 st DIGIT: 3 =3
2 nd DIGIT: 3 x 2 + 2 =8
3 rd DIGIT: 2 x 2 + 1 =5
4 th DIGIT: 1 x 2 + 0 =2
321 x 12 = 3852

To multiply by 13, use the same method but multiply by 3 (the second digit
of 13) instead. For example:
321 x 13 = ?
1 st DIGIT: 3 =3
2 nd DIGIT: 3 x 3 + 2 = 11
3 rd DIGIT: 2 x 3 + 1 =7
4 th DIGIT: 1 x 3 + 0 =3
Since the 2 nd DIGIT answer is a double digit number, carry the first digit of
the 11 over to the 1 st DIGIT answer. This gives 3 + 1 = 4
321 x 13 = 4173
Line Multiplication
If we have the math problem of 21 x 13 = ?
Start by drawing parallel lines to represent 21. Then draw the lines in the
different direction to represent 13
à
Next, draw a circle to separate the points of interception and count them up,
starting from the right

This method can also be used on harder math problems such as: 211 x 24 =
?
Grid Multiplication
The Grid Method can be used when multiplying a two digit number with
another two digit number. Start by splitting the numbers into their tens unit.
For example:

Draw a grid and fill it in with the numbers we have just got

Fill in the empty squares by multiplying the numbers on the left with the
numbers on the top

Use basic math to add the resulting numbers

 Ancient Egyptian Multiplication

Draw two columns underneath the math problem. In the left column, start at
1 and keep doubling until it doesn’t exceed the number at the top left
(which is 19 in this math problem).
In the second column, keep doubling the top right number (which is 31 in
this math problem)

à
Find the numbers in the left column that will add up to the top left number.
For example: 1 + 2 + 16 = 19

Add the numbers on the right column that correspond to the chosen
numbers from the left column
 Lattice Multiplication

If we have the math problem 321 x 54 = ?

Start by drawing a grid so that the number of boxes match the number of
digits. Then draw diagonal lines

à
Multiply each number from the top with the number on the right. Put the
tens unit in the top half and the single unit in the bottom half e.g. 1 x 5 = 05

Add the numbers up in the diagonal rows, starting from the right hand side
and carry numbers if needed
 Multiply 2 digit numbers by 9

This method only works if the second digit is bigger than the first digit. For
example: 46 x 9 will work but 64 x 9 won’t work. Furthermore, if the first
and second digits are the same, this method won’t work. For example: 99 x
9 won’t work
The first digit of the answer is always the same as the first digit of the 2
digit number. For example:
27 x 9 = 2 _ _
The second digit of the answer can be found by either writing or imagining
the numbers from 1 to 10 in a horizontal line. Underline the digits
belonging to the 2 digit number. Then see how many numbers are between
the first and second digits

27 x 9 = 2 4 _
The third digit of the answer can be found by seeing how many digits are to
the right of the second digit

27 x 9 = 2 4 3
 Fast Multiplication Trick

There is a simple trick you can do if you are multiplying two digit numbers
together which have the same first digit and the second digits add up to 10
Increase the first digit by 1

Multiply the first digit of the first number by the first digit of the second
number

This gives the first half of the answer: 4 x 3 = 12

12__
Next, multiply the second digit of the first number by the second digit of the
second number

This gives the second part of the answer: 2 x 8 = 16

__16
Put the two parts together and you have the answer:
1216
 Multiplication Near 100

Write above each number its difference from 100

Then to get the first half of the answer, do the sum of the first number with
the difference from 100 of the second number. For example: 98 – 4 = 94

Then to get the second half of the answer, multiply the top numbers
together. For example: -2 x -4 = 08
It is important to use 08 rather than 8 because we are working with 2 digit
numbers

Put the two halves together and we have the answer:

98 x 96 = 9408
This method can also be used when multiplying both numbers above 100. It
can also be used when one number is below 100 and the other is above 100
 Multiply Numbers With An Even Difference

If you are trying to multiply two different numbers together and the
difference between them is an even number, then this method will work
Start by writing down the number that is between the two numbers being
multiplied. Then square this number. Next, find the difference from any of
the numbers to the middle number. Once you have this, square the number
and minus it from the first squared number

Example 1:
98 x 102 = ?
100 2 – 2 2 = 9996

Example 2:
45 x 55 = ?
50 2 – 5 2 = 2475
 Multiplying Two Digit Numbers

Draw arrows above and below the math problem

Multiply the single digits with the corresponding top arrows:

2x3=6
1x1=1
This gives the first and last digit of the answer:
6_1
To solve the middle number, multiply the single digits with the
corresponding bottom arrows:
2x1=2
1x3=3
Add these together:
2+3=5
This now gives the middle digit of the answer:
651
 Squaring and CubingTricks

Squaring 2 Digit Numbers Ending in 5

It is possible to square a 2 digit number really fast if its last digit is 5. To get
the first half of the answer, multiply the first digit by the first digit plus 1.
To get the second half of the answer, multiply the second digit by itself. For
example:
45 2 = ?
4(4 + 1) = 20
5 x 5 = 25
Put both halves of the answers together:
45 2 = 2025

Here is another example:

95 2 = ?
9(9 + 1) = 90
5 x 5 = 25
Put both halves of the answers together:
95 2 = 9025
 Squaring 3 Digit Numbers

Squaring a 3 digit number can be broken into 3 parts. For the first part,
square the first digit. For the second part, multiply the first digit by the
second and third digit and then multiply by 2. For the third part, square the
second and third digit. If any of those answers are more than 2 digits long,
then carry the digit across to the left. Here is an example:
308 2 = ?
1 st part: 3 2 = 9
2 nd part: 3 x 8 x 2 = 48
3 rd part: 8 2 = 64
Put the 3 parts together:
308 2 = 94864

Here is another example:

412 2 = ?
1 st part: 4 2 = 16
2 nd part: 4 x 12 x 2 = 96
3 rd part: 12 2 = 144
Since the answer in the 3 rd part is more than 2 digits long, the first digit
needs to be carried over (1 + 6 = 7)
Put the 3 parts together:
412 2 = 169744
 Cubing 2 Digit Numbers

To cube numbers, it helps to use a little bit of algebra. Assign the letter ‘a’
to the first digit and the letter ‘b’ to the second digit

Then assign each digit to the following sequence:

(You may notice the pattern)

Once you solve the equations, the middle numbers need to be multiplied by
2. Then start from the right hand side and add the numbers vertically. So 8
can go straight down below the line. Then 12 + 24 = 36. Write 6 below the
line and carry the 3 over. Then 18 + 36 = 54. Add 3 to this equals 57. Write
7 below the line and carry the 5. Then do 27 + 5 = 32 and write this below
the line to give the answer: 32,768
 Division Tricks

Checking Dividable Numbers

To check if a number is evenly dividable by 3, simply add each digit and

divide that total by 3. For example:
Is 41566 evenly dividable by 3?
4 + 1 + 5 + 6 + 6 = 22
22 is not dividable by 3 so 41566 is not dividable by 3

To check if a number is evenly dividable by 4, simply look at the last 2

digits and divide them by 4. For example:
Is 38512 evenly dividable by 4?
12 is dividable by 4 so 38512 is dividable by 4
 Division By Subtracting

To divide a number by using subtraction, you need to count the number of

times you can subtract until the number reaches zero
In this example, 16 can be subtracted by 4 a total of 4 times until it reaches
0. Therefore, 16 dived by 4 equals 4
 Dividing By 5

Any number can easily and quickly be divided by 5 by using this method.
In the example, begin by multiplying both the top and bottom numbers by 2

à
Then delete the bottom number. Since we are now dividing by 10, move the
decimal place of the top number by one place to the left to give the answer
of 12.4

This method can also work when dividing by other numbers. This is how
we could divide by 20:

à
Then delete the bottom number. Since we are now dividing by 100, move
the decimal place of the top number by two places to the left to give the
answer of 3.50
 Dividing By 9

Any number can easily be divided by 9 with this method. In the example,
begin by writing the same number as the first digit, which gives 3. Then do
3 + 5 = 8 and write this as the second digit of the answer. Then do 8 + 7 =
15 and write the 1 above the 8 and write the 5 as the third digit of the
answer. Then do 15 + 9 = 24 and write 2 above the 5 and write 4 as the
fourth digit of the answer. Lastly, do 24 + 3 = 27 and this is written as the
remainder. You then need to do 27 divided by 9. This equals 3 so write this
above the last digit of the answer. If the remainder didn’t divide perfectly,
write the whole number that did and what’s left will be a remainder at the
final answer

Finally, add the digits above the answer to those underneath them to give
the final answer. In the example, you will need to do 1 + 8 = 9, 2 + 5 = 7
and 3 + 4 = 7
 Addition Tricks

Addition By Grouping

Addition can be easier to do if you group numbers together that would add
up to 10. In the example below, 9 + 1 = 10 and 3 + 7 = 10. This can then be
easily added up to give 20

This method can also be used when adding decimal numbers. For example:
 Addition Without Carrying

Most people are taught to add numbers from the right to the left.
Unfortunately, this method often creates the need to carry a number over if
the sum is over 9

A different method is to add the numbers from the left to the right. This
eliminates the need to carry numbers over
The numbers on the left side are in the tens column. This means that the 2
represents 20 and the 4 represents 40. Begin by doing the following:
20 + 40 = 60
60 + 5 = 65
65 + 6 = 71
 Addition With Simple Counting

With this addition trick, you only need to be able to count up to 18 to be

able to solve any addition problem
In the example, we first look at the right column and do 5 + 7 = 12.
Underneath the 7, write 1 and 2. Then you do 2 + 9 = 11 and write it
underneath. Then you do 1 + 7 = 8 and write it underneath. The bottom
digit on the right is the last digit of the answer. Circle any 1’s on the left and
count them up. Write the total, which is 2 above the left column

à
We then look at the left column and continue adding downwards using the
same technique. The bottom digit on the right is the second last digit of the
answer. Count the 1’s and this gives the first digit of the answer
This technique can also be used to add 3 digit numbers and higher as well
as long strings of single digit numbers
 Addition Shortcut
Adding a series of numbers can be made simpler with this method. Start by
adding the first digit of each number and write it down. In the example
below, this equals 7

Then add the second digit of each number and write this underneath. You
must shift the single digits one place to the right. Repeat this process for the
third and fourth digit. Afterwards, add up the numbers to give an answer

If there are different sized numbers such as:

5471 + 283 + 16 = ?
Write a zero in front of the digits to make them all the same length. For
example:
5471 + 0283 + 0016 = ?
This can then be solved using the method described above
 Subtraction Tricks

Subtract By Adding

This method works when subtracting a single digit from any teen value
Start by finding the difference of the bottom number to 10. In the example,
this is +2

Then move that difference up next to the first number

Then add the difference to the second digit of the first number. In the
example, this would be 5 + 2 = 7
 Subtracting By Rounding

A quick way of doing subtractions is to round the bottom number up and

add on the difference at the end

In the example above, you would solve it by doing:

76 – 50 = 26
26 + 1 = 27
 Subtracting From 1000

To subtract from 1000 the quick and easy way, start by crossing the 1,
writing 0 above it and borrowing it to the adjacent 0, thus turning it into a
10. Then cross the 10, write 9 above it and borrow 1 to the adjacent 0, thus
turning it into a 10. Then repeat this for the next number on the right

Then start from the right side and subtract each of the top digits from those
below. For example:
10 – 3 = 7
9–7=2
9–4=5

To subtract from 10,000 you would simply subtract each digit below from
0, 9, 9, 9, 10
To subtract from 100,000 you would simply subtract each digit below from
0, 9, 9, 9, 9, 10
 Subtraction Without Borrowing

Subtracting with large numbers often creates the need to borrow from
another number if a number is smaller than what it is trying to take. In the
example below you can see that 3 – 2 equals 1. However, 5 - 9 wouldn’t go
so 1 would need to be borrowed from the 4. This then created 15 – 9 which
equals 6. Then 3 – 3 equals 0 and 4 – 2 equals 2

However, there is a much simpler method that can be used which doesn’t
require any borrowing. In the example below, you would do 3 – 2 which
equals 1. Then you notice that 5 – 9 doesn’t go so you then look at the next
digit to the left and see that 45 – 39 does go so you write 06. Then it’s just 4
– 2 which equals 2
 Super Easy Subtraction

This is an easy subtraction technique that uses a one up, one down method
instead of borrowing. If the top number can’t take the number underneath it,
add a 1 to it to represent a tens unit. Then add a 1 to the number on the left
of the bottom number and add them together. Here is an example:
The top 4 can’t take the bottom 5 so you need to add a 1 to the 4 to turn it
into 14. By doing this, you’ll have to put a 1 below next to the 3. This turns
that 3 into a 4 because 1 + 3 = 4

The top 1 can’t take the bottom 4 (1 + 3) so add a 1 to the top 1 to turn it
into 11. By doing this, you’ll have to put a 1 below next to the 6. This turns
that 6 into a 7 because 1 + 6 = 7. Repeat the process of one up, one down
when a number can’t take another number and you will be able to fill in the
answer

à à
 Square and Cube Root Tricks

Quick Square Roots

This square root trick involves knowing the answer to some square roots
already. Here is an example of what this trick can be used on:

To solve the above example, think of a square root that will give a whole
number that is less than the square root we are trying to solve

The answer to this will now give the whole number answer to the square
root of 39. To find the remaining fraction, we need to do two things. Firstly,
to get the bottom part of the fraction, multiply the 6 that we have just got
with 2. Thus, 6 x 2 = 12

Secondly, to get the top part of the fraction, find the difference between the
whole numbers in the square roots. Therefore, the difference between 39
and 36 equals 3. This can then be written on top of the fraction
 Quick Cube Roots

To find the cube root of a number, you will need to write down or
remember the following cubes:

The last digit of the cubed answers above are all underlined because they
can be matched with the last digit of the number being cubed. Then the
number from the left column is the last digit of the answer

The last 3 digits of the question is always ignored and what is left is circled.
Find which cube root from 1 to 10 that the circled number is between. Then
out of those 2 numbers, choose the lowest number from the left column to
give the first digit of the answer

The answer will always be 2 digits long if the number being cube rooted is
between 4 to 6 digits long
 Fraction and Percentage Tricks

Subtracting Fractions

Fraction subtraction looks difficult but it isn’t if you know the trick. Let’s
look at the example below:

Firstly, you need to make the denominators (The bottom numbers) the same
so to do this, you multiply them together. In the example, 5 x 3 = 15

Then, multiply the numerator (The top number) of the first fraction by the
denominator of the second fraction. In the example, 4 x 3 = 12
Next, you need to multiply the numerator of the second fraction by the
denominator of the first fraction. In the example, 1 x 5 = 5

Once you subtract the values, you will have the answer
 Convert Fractions To Decimal

A fraction is the same as the numerator (top number) divided by the

denominator (bottom number) e.g.

This can be solved by using long division. Start by writing the denominator
on the left and the numerator on the right side of the line. Add a decimal
and some zeros to make it easier to work with. More zeros can be added to
the end if needed at a later stage

Then you need to start doing the math. Firstly, 8 doesn’t go into 3 so we
write 0 on the top. We then carry the 3 to the next zero which turns it into a
30. Now this enables 8 to go into 30 three times so we write 3 on top.
However, there is a remainder of 6 so this gets carried over to the next zero.
This enables 8 to go into 60 seven times so we write 7 on top and carry 4.
Lastly, 8 goes into 40 five times so we write a 5 on top and since there is no
remainder, this is the end of the division
 Convert Recurring Decimals To Fractions

A recurring decimal number is when the numbers after the decimal point
repeat forever. If we want to convert this number into a fraction, we will
need to use a little bit of algebra. Multiply both sides by 10. Minus one x
from both sides. Lastly, make x on its own by moving the number to the
other side of the equation.
0.4444… = x
4.444… = 10x
4 = 9x
4= x
9
For recurring decimal numbers that don’t repeat the same numbers, it is
important to get both of the repeating digits on the left side of the decimal
point. In the example below, both sides have been multiplied by 100 to do
this
0.4343… = x
43.43… = 100x
43 = 99x
43 = x
99
 Convert Fractions To Percentages

Any fraction can be converted to a percentage. It is important to understand

that a percentage is basically anything out of 100

To turn eighteen sixtieths into a percentage, write 100 over 1 on the right
hand side

Next, multiply the top numbers with each other. Then multiply the bottom
numbers with each other

Finally, the fraction can be simplified by crossing out the same number of
zeros on the top and bottom
 Percentages Made Easy

To find the percentage of any number, simply divide both sides by 10. This
can be done by moving the decimal point one place to the left. Then
multiply both sides together. Here are some examples:
50% of 200 = ?
5.0 x 20.0 = 100
(5.0 is the same as 5 and 20.0 is the same as 20)
20% of 14 = ?
2.0 x 1.4 = 2.8
15% of 40 = ?
1.5 x 4.0 = 6
43% of 21 = ?
4.3 x 2.1 = ?
(Multiplying decimal numbers involves a few steps)

1) Do 1 x 3 = 3. Then do 1 x 4 = 4
2) Write an x to represent a blank space
3) Do 2 x 3 = 6. Then do 2 x 4 = 8
4) Add up the numbers
5) Move the decimal point two places to the left