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By eternaltreasures
There are many useful Math techniques, tricks, and secrets that can be valuable in your
day to day work or study. Knowing these shortcuts are key to computation speed and
accuracy in your Mental Mathematical Aptitude. This can be useful in applications such
as IQ tests, aptitude tests, job application tests, military tests, college entrance tests and so
many more uses in the office, workplace, or in your own home.
MULTIPLICATION:
Multiplication by distribution
12 x 17
= (12 x 10) + (12 x 7) ---> 12 is multiplied to both 10 & 7
= 120 + 84
= 204
Multiplication by 10 ---> just move the decimal point one place to the right
14 x 10
= 140 ---> added one zero
Multiplication by 100 ---> move the decimal point two places to the right
42 x 100
= 4200 ---> added two zeroes
solve 37 x 3
multiply 7 by 3 = 21, knowing the last digit (1), just combine two more 1's giving the
triple digit answer 111
solve 37 x 9
multiply 7 by 9 = 63, knowing the last digit (3), just combine two more 3's giving the
triple digit answer 333
solve 37 x 21
multiply 7 by 21 = 147, knowing the last digit (7), just combine two more 7's giving the
triple digit answer 777
15 x 25
= 375
75 x 75
first term = (7 + 1) x 7 = 56
last term = 25
answer = 5625 ---> 75 squared
DIVISION:
Division by 10 ---> move the decimal point one place to the left
0.5/10
= 0.05 ---> 5% is 50% divided by ten
700/50
= (700/100) x 2
=7x2
= 14
Division by 100 ---> move the decimal point two places to the left
25/100
= 0.25
750/25
= (750/100) x 4
= 7.5 x 2 x 2
= 30
ADDITION:
Addition of numbers close to multiples of ten (e.g. 19, 29, 89, 99 etc.)
116 + 39
= 116 + (40 - 1)
= 116 + 40 - 1 ---> add 40 then subtract 1
= 156 - 1
= 155
116 + 97
= 116 + (100 - 3)
= 116 + 100 - 3 ---> add 100 then subtract 3
= 216 - 3
= 213
Addition of decimals
12.5 + 6.25
= (12 + 0.5) + (6 + 0.25)
= 12 + 6 + 0.5 + 0.25 ---> add the integers then the decimals
= 18 + 0.5 + 0.25
= 18.75
SUBTRACTION:
250 - 196
= 250 - (200 - 4)
= 250 - 200 + 4 ---> subtract 200 then add 4
= 50 + 4
= 54
216 - 61
= 216 - (100 - 39)
= 216 - 100 + 39
= 116 + (40 - 1) ---> now the operation is addition, which is much easier
= 156 - 1
= 155
Subtraction of decimals
47 - 9.9
= 47 - (9 + 0.9) ---> "double subtraction"
= 47 - 9 - 0.9 ---> subtract the integer first then the decimal
= 38 - 0.9
= 37.1
18.3 - 0.8
= 18 + 0.3 - 0.8
= (18 - 0.8) + 0.3 ---> subtract 0.8 from 18 first
= 17.2 + 0.3
= 17.5
WORKING ON PERCENTAGES:
30% of 120
= 10% x 3 x 120 ---> it is much easier working with tens (10%)
= 10% x 120 x 3
= 12 x 3
= 36
360 x 5%
= 360 x 50%/10 ---> take the half(0.5) and divide by 10
= (360/2)/10
= 180/10
= 18
DECIMALS:
To convert or express percentages as decimals, divide by 100 or simply just move the
decimal point by two places to the left of the given number, thus:
1% = 1/100 = 0.01
2% = 2/100 = 0.02 = 1/50
3% = 3/100 = 0.03
4% = 4/100 = 0.04 = 1/25
5% = 5/100 = 0.05 = 1/20
6.25% = 6.25/100 = 0.0625 = 1/16
7% = 7/100 = 0.07
7.5% = 7.5/100 = 0.075
10% = 10/100 = 0.1 = 1/10
12.5% = 12.5/100 = 0.125 = 1/8
20% = 0.2 = 1/5
21% = 0.21
25% = 0.25 = 1/4
30% = 0.3 = 3/10
33.33% = 33.33/100 = 0.3333 = 1/3
37.5% = 0.375 = 3/8
40% = 0.4 = 2/5
50% = 0.5 = 1/2
60% = 0.6 = 3/5
62.5% = 0.625 = 5/8
66.66% = 66.66/100 = 2/3
75% = 0.75 = 3/4
80% = 0.8 = 4/5
87.5% = 0.875 = 7/8
100% = 1
125% = 1.25 = 1 1/4
150% = 1.5 = 1 1/2
200% = 2
FRACTIONS:
4/3 = 1 1/3 = 1.3333 = 133.33% ---> useful number for volume of sphere, etc.
9/5 = 1 4/5 = 1.8 = 180% ---> conversion factor for Celsius/Fahrenheit temperatures
V = 4/3 pi * r^3
where:
V = volume of sphere
r = radius of sphere
F = (1.8 C) + 32
where:
F = temperature in Fahrenheit
C = temperature in Celsius