5 Cool Math Tricks You Didn't Know

By Laura Laing
When it comes to basic calculations, kids can benefit from
knowing math facts cold. This is because when the arithmetic is
simple, children are allowed to focus on more complex concepts.
That's one reason your children are encouraged to memorize
their multiplication tables. But over the years, educators have
discovered that straight memorization is not always the best. In
fact, when kids spend a great deal of time really unpacking what
these math concepts mean, their understanding is far more likely
to extend toward many other concepts.
So are math "tricks" a good thing or a bad thing?
"Kids should have a way of figuring out the math fact that uses reasoning," says Felice Shore, Ph.D., assistant
professor and co-assistant chair of Towson University's math department in Maryland. As an expert in
mathematics education, Shore knows that when children's natural curiosity is stimulated, they can make
important mathematical connections that will deepen their understanding.
"But once kids can reason their way to the answer and understand various ways to do so, these 'tricks' can
help them get answers quickly," she continues.
The key is to introduce these tricks at the right age.
"I don't think third- or even fourth-graders should learn tricks," Shore says. "The important mathematics at
those grades is still about building understanding of relationships between numbers the very reasons
behind math facts. Once you show them the trick, it'll most likely just shut down their thinking."
But math tricks can be useful. If your fifth-grader is still struggling with her multiplication tables, these can be a
godsend. Even better is when they reveal something about the math that makes them work.
If you're going to show your child a quick way to multiply, make sure that you help her understand why the
trick works. Here are five cool examples and the math behind them.
Multiplying by 4
This trick is so simple and logical, it almost shouldn't be called a trick. But it could come in handy for your
budding Sir Isaac Newton. To multiply any number by 4, simply multiply it by 2 and then double the answer.
35 x 4
35 x 2 = 70
70 x 2 = 140
35 x 4 = 140
Why does it work?
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This trick is based on a very simple fact:
2 x 2 = 4
That means that:
35 x 4 = 35 x (2 x 2)
And
35 x 2 x 2
70 x 2
140
The underlying lesson of this "trick" is that you can solve a multiplication problem by multiplying by its factors.
Multiplying by 9
Hold up both hands, with your fingers spread. To multiply 4 x 9, bend your fourth finger from the left. Count the
number of fingers to the left of your bent finger you should get 3. Then count the number of fingers (and
thumbs) to the right of your bent finger you should get 6. The answer is 36. This works when multiplying
any number 1-10 by 9.
Why does it work?
Simple algebra can show that what you're doing with your fingers boils down to this: When you multiply a
number by 9, you're really multiplying by 10 and then subtracting that number. But you don't need to do the
algebra. Some kids figure out that reasoning without the mysterious finger trick.
You can help your child extend his understanding of the number 9 by pointing out an important piece of this
trick: In the 9s multiplication tables, the digits add up to 9!
4 x 9 = 36 >> 3 + 6 = 9
9 x 9 = 81 >> 8 + 1 = 9
Then you can prompt your child to notice other patterns. For example, 4 - 1 = 3 and 3 + 6 = 9 and 4 x 9 = 36.
The patterns in the 9s multiplication tables are endless and can lead to many other discoveries about
numbers.
Multiplying by 11
Sure, multiplying a one-digit number by 11 is a cinch.
4 x 11 = 44
7 x 11 = 77
But did you know there's a trick to multiplying any number by 11? Here's how, using an example: 52 x 11.
The first digit of the answer will be 5 and the last digit of the answer will be 2. To get the digit in between, just
add 5 and 2.
5 (5+2) 2
572
You may have noticed that when you add the two digits together, you get a one-digit number. If you get a two-
digit number, things are a little trickier.
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87 x 11
8 (8+7) 7
8 (15) 7
(8+1)57
957
Why does it work?
If you think of doing longhand multiplication by stacking the two numbers, you'll see right away:
But the more precise reasoning has to do with place value. What you're really doing is multiplying 87 by 1,
then multiplying 87 by 10, and finally adding the two products together:
87 x 1 = 87
87 x 10 = 870
870 + 87 = 957
The trick itself is just a shortcut to the answer.
Multiplying by 12
Just like the previous trick, you can multiply any number by 12 very quickly and easily. Let's try it with 7 x 12.
First multiply 7 by 10. Then multiply 7 by 2. Finally, add them together:
7 x 12
7 x 10 = 70
7 x 2 = 14
70 + 14 = 84
Easy peasy. When this gets really impressive is with larger numbers:
25 x 12
25 x 10 = 250
25 x 2 = 50
250 + 50 = 300
Why does it work?
This trick works for the same reason that the 11s trick works. But there's another way to describe it. Think of
12 as the sum of 10 and 2.
25 x 12
25 x (10 + 2)
(25 x 10) + (25 x 2)
250 + 50
300
Is a number divisible by 3? (Or in math terms: Is a number a multiple of 3?)
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When a number is evenly divisible by another number, it is said to be a multiple of that number. In other
words: Since 27 is evenly divisible by 3, 27 is a multiple of 3.
Turns out, there's a nice little trick for this as well. Add up the values of the digits. Is that sum a multiple of 3? If
so, the number itself is also evenly divisible by 3. Check it out:
Is 543 divisible by 3?
5 + 4 + 3 = 12
12 is divisible by 3
So 543 is divisible by 3
Why does it work?
Place value is key here, but there's an easy way to show your child what's happening before you even
introduce the trick. Do this with something tangible, like pennies:
1. Start with 45 pennies.
2. Have your child divide the pennies into two piles based on the place value one pile of 40 pennies and
one pile of 5 pennies.
3. Now ask your child to divide the 40 pennies into groups of 10 pennies. (She should notice that there are
four groups of 10 pennies.)
4. Now ask her this question: "How can you change each of these groups of 10, so that the number is divisible
by 3?" She should suggest that you take away one penny from each pile. (If not, coax her to that answer.)
5. Have her take one penny from each group of 10 and move them into another group.
6. Point out that she has six piles of pennies: four piles of 9 pennies, one pile of 4 pennies and one pile of 5
pennies.
7. Ask her what happens if she combines the pile of 4 pennies and the pile of 5 pennies. She should notice
that she'll get 9, which is divisible by 3.
8. By now, she will probably notice that the 4 and 5 come from the number 45. See if she can come up with
the trick after doing this with a few examples using the pennies.
A former math teacher, Laura Laing is now a freelance writer, specializing in math curriculum development, as
well as journalism and copywriting. She is also the parent of a tween daughter, who outwardly hates math (but
secretly doesn't mind doing it). Laura considers herself a "math evangelist," promoting the shocking notion that
anyone can (and has to) do math. She is the author of Math for Grownups and blogs at
www.mathforgrownups.com.
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