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Math often gets a bad rap for being complicated or intimidating, but the truth is that mathematics is all around us and plays a crucial role in our everyday lives. If, in the past, math has been a bit of a challenge for you, and you’re looking for tips and tricks to incorporate it into your life but are struggling with some concepts, here is what you need to know. 

Mathematics is not an insurmountable mountain you’ll never climb because you may have struggled with it in the past: it’s a series of steps that, when broken down, can become perfectly manageable.

Whether you’re a student, an adult trying to manage your finances, or someone looking to reignite their love for learning, there are plenty of math tips and tricks that you can learn at any age. These practical hacks aren’t just for solving equations in a classroom; they’re tools that can be applied to everyday situations to make your life easier.

Multiplication Tips and Tricks

Memorizing times tables can feel like a daunting task, but there are tricks that can help you with multiplication.

For example, when it comes to multiplying large numbers by 9, there’s a really nifty trick that can help you figure things out in your head. Basically, you multiply the given number by 10 and then remove that same number once. For example, 9 x 53 would be 530 – 53, which is 477.

A fun way to multiply double-digit numbers is to use their distance from 100. For instance, this is how you could calculate 85×96 on paper. First, you subtract each number from 100: 100 – 85 is 15, and 100 – 96 is 4. Then, you add the resulting values together: 15 + 4, which is 19. Next, you subtract this value from 100, which is 81; this is the first part of the answer. The second part results from multiplying the first two values we calculated: 15 x 4, which is 60. Finally, you merge the two answers: 81 and 60. And here’s your result: 85 x 96 = 8160.

Mastering Percentages

Percentages are everywhere, from sales in stores to interest rates on loans, so mastering them can seriously make your life easier.

Here’s how you can quickly calculate a percentage of a number. First, you move the decimal point two places to the left for a 1% change. For example, finding 12% of 80 involves moving the decimal point one place to the left (80 ? 8) for a 1% change, then multiplying it by 12. This is what you get: 8 x 12 = 96. So, 12% of 80 is 9.6.

When it comes to finding 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, etc., use the following trick. Calculate the 10% of a number by moving its decimal point one position to the left (e.g., 10% of 50 is 5). Then, iterate. To find 5%, calculate 10% and divide it in two (5 / 2 = 2.5); to find 15%, calculate 10% and add 5%; to find 20%, calculate 10% and double it, etc.

Fractions Made Easy

Fractions often strike fear in the hearts of many students, but they don’t have to.

When it comes to dividing fractions, you can easily do it without a calculator. First, you multiply the numerator of the first fraction (the top number) by the denominator of the second fraction (the bottom number), and then the numerator of the second fraction with the denominator of the first fraction. For example, this is how you can divide these fractions 3/4 ÷ 2/3: first, you multiply 3 by 3 and get 9 (the numerator); then, you multiply 2 by 4 and get 8 (the denominator). The answer? 9/8!

What about adding fractions? If you’re adding fractions with denominators, such as 1/4 + 2/4, follow these easy steps: add the numerators 1 and 2 and then place the result (3) over the common denominator (4): 3/4.

If you’re adding fractions with unlike denominators, such as 5/12 and 3/20, you need to find the least common multiple of the denominators, which brings us to the next tip…

Finding the Least Common Multiple (LCM)

The least common multiple or the least common denominator is the smallest or lowest multiple that the two numbers have in common. Understanding the least common multiple concept is essential when you’re adding, subtracting, and comparing two or more fractions. But how do you find it?

There are several ways to go about this, but here’s an easy one. Let’s take our example of 5/12 and 3/20. To find the LCM for the denominators 12 and 20, you first need to make a proper fraction, meaning put the smaller number on top of the bigger one: 12/20. Next, you simplify that fraction and then flip it. 12/20 simplifies to 3/5, and when you flip it, you get 5/3. Then, you just multiply the original fraction by the reciprocal you just got: 12/20 x 5/3 = 60/60. That’s your LCM!

The Magic of Number 9

Finally, here is a fun little trick to check your multiplication results. When multiplying a number by 9, the digits in the product add up to 9. For example, 9 x 5 = 45 (4 + 5 = 9). This trick works for any whole number multiplied by 9.

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