Mastering Maths - Top 10 Best Maths Tricks for Class 1 to 5 Students

Want to be great at math and impress everyone with your quick thinking? You've found the perfect place! Forget boring memorization and long calculations; get ready for a fun journey where math becomes exciting with clever shortcuts! This article is your secret weapon, a treasure trove of the coolest, most effective math tricks designed to transform the way you approach numbers. Forget rote memorization and tedious calculations; we're about to embark on an exciting journey where math becomes a thrilling adventure, full of shortcuts and clever strategies.

Prepare to be amazed as you discover simple yet powerful techniques that will help you:

• Solve complex problems in a flash: Learn to break down daunting equations into manageable steps, making even the most challenging problems seem effortless.

• Boost your mental math abilities: Develop your speed and accuracy in performing calculations in your head, impressing everyone with your quick thinking.

• Uncover hidden patterns and relationships: See the beauty and logic in numbers as you learn to identify patterns that simplify calculations and deepen your understanding.

• Gain confidence and overcome math anxiety: Transform your perception of math from a daunting subject to an enjoyable and rewarding one.

So, get ready to sharpen your mind, unleash your potential, and surprise everyone with your newfound mathematical prowess. The journey to becoming a math master begins now!

Shortcut Trick for Maths Calculation - For Class 1 and 2

1. The "Plus One, Minus One" Trick (Addition & Subtraction by 1)

• Concept: This isn't a "trick" as much as a visual aid to solidify the concept of adding and subtracting one.

• How it Works: For addition, ask them to think of the next number. For subtraction, ask for the previous number.

• Example: "What is 5 + 1?" (Think: The next number after 5 is 6). "What is 7 - 1?" (Think: The number before 7 is 6).

• Why it Helps: Reinforces the number line concept and the relationship between consecutive numbers.

2. Counting On/Counting Back (Addition & Subtraction):

• Concept: Instead of counting all items, start from the larger number and count on.

• How it Works (Addition): For 3 + 5, start at 5 and count "6, 7, 8" (three more).

• How it Works (Subtraction): For 8 - 3, start at 8 and count back "7, 6, 5" (three back).

• Why it Helps: Develops mental computation and reduces reliance on finger counting for larger numbers.

3. Friends of Ten (Number Bonds to 10):

• Concept: This is foundational for later addition and subtraction. Knowing pairs of numbers that add up to 10.

• How it Works: Ask "What number goes with 7 to make 10?" (Answer: 3). Use visual aids like ten frames or number lines.

• Why it Helps: Crucial for efficient addition strategies (e.g., making a 10 and adding the rest).

Easy Math Tricks - For Class 3, 4, and 5

4. The "Zero" Trick (Multiplying by 10, 100, 1000)

• Concept: Understanding place value shifts when multiplying by powers of 10.

• How it Works: Simply add the number of zeros from 10, 100, or 1000 to the end of the other number.

• Example: 7×10=70 (add one zero). 15×100=1500 (add two zeros).

• Why it's Great: Makes large multiplications seem incredibly easy and reinforces the power of place value.

4. The "Doubles" Trick (Multiplying by 2)

• Concept: Multiplying a number by 2 is the same as adding the number to itself.

• How it Works: To find 6×2, just think 6+6=12. For 9×2, think 9+9=18.

• Why it's Great: Connects multiplication to a familiar concept (addition), making the multiplication facts for 2 easy to grasp and recall.

5. The "Number Next Door" Trick (Multiplying by 9 with Fingers)

• Concept: A fun, visual, and tactile way to instantly get multiplication facts for 9 (up to 10×9).

• How it Works: Hold both hands out. For 9×4, fold down your 4th finger from the left. The fingers to the left of the folded finger are tens (3 fingers = 30). The fingers to the right are ones (6 fingers = 6). So, 9×4=36.

• Why it's Great: It's incredibly engaging and provides an instant answer, helping children memorize the often-tricky 9s multiplication table.

Also Read - How to Multiply 2-Digit Numbers Mentally – Step-by-Step Guide for Kids

 6. Addition by "Make a Ten"

• Concept: Using the "Friends of Ten" concept to simplify addition sums involving numbers close to 10.

• How it Works: For 7+6, think: "7 needs 3 to make 10. Take 3 from 6, which leaves 3. So, 10+3=13."

• Why it's Great: This is a fundamental mental math strategy that significantly speeds up addition and reduces errors.

7. Estimating Answers (Rounding)

• Concept: Quickly finding an approximate answer to check if a precise calculation is reasonable.

• How it Works: Round numbers to the nearest 10 or 100 before performing the operation. For 47+23, think 50+20=70.

• Why it's Great: Develops strong number sense and helps students identify errors in their calculations.

8. Subtracting from 1000 (or other powers of 10)" Trick

• Concept: A quick way to subtract any number from 100, 1000, 10000, etc.

• How it Works: Subtract every digit from 9, except the last digit, which you subtract from 10.

• Example: 1000−473

• 9−4=5

• 9−7=2

• 10−3=7

• So, 1000−473=527.

• Why it's Great: Makes subtraction across multiple zeros much faster and less prone to borrowing errors.

9. The "Break Apart" Method for Multiplication (Distributive Property)

• Concept: Breaking down one of the numbers into easier parts (tens and ones) to multiply separately.

• How it Works: For 13×7, think: (10×7)+(3×7)=70+21=91.

• Why it's Great: Teaches the fundamental distributive property in a practical way, making multi-digit multiplication less intimidating. It's the mental math equivalent of the standard algorithm

Also Read - Abacus vs Vedic Math: Which One is Better for Mental Development?

10.  Identifying Multiples (Divisibility Rules - simple ones)

• Concept: Quick tests to see if a number is perfectly divisible by another.

• How it Works:

• By 2: If the last digit is even (0,2,4,6,8).

• By 5: If the last digit is 0 or 5.

• By 10: If the last digit is 0.

• By 3: (Slightly more advanced) If the sum of its digits is divisible by 3. (e.g., For 21, 2+1=3, so 21 is divisible by 3. For 141, 1+4+1=6, so 141 is divisible by 3).

• Why it's Great: Helps in simplifying fractions, understanding prime and composite numbers, and checking division answers.

Note - These tricks, when combined with hands-on activities and more xamples, can truly transform a child's perception of mathematics, making it an exciting and achievable subject. Remember, the key is to make learning playful and to celebrate every step of their mathematical journey!