Mental Math Strategies
Mental math strategies are a crucial part of a student’s maths toolbox. They allow students to perform mental calculations more quickly and accurately.
Mental Math Strategies
Students can use a variety of mental math strategies to solve addition, subtraction, and multiplication problems. These strategies can also be used when solving word problems and other maths questions that require reasoning.
Addition
Addition is an essential skill that students need to master in order to succeed in elementary school. Mental math strategies are a great way for students to learn how to solve addition facts in their head and can help them improve their overall mathematical abilities.
There are many different mental math strategies for addition, some of which are more difficult than others. However, these strategies are important for students to know because they can help them work out addition problems quickly and accurately.
One strategy for solving addition problems is to count on, or add to the bigger number first. This strategy can be useful when students aren’t sure how to solve a particular addition problem, and they can use it as a reminder of how to do their calculations.
Another strategy for solving addition problems is to use a number line, which is a great way to reinforce addition facts and build a strong understanding of the numbers. This strategy is easy to teach and can be done with just a few students in a classroom or at home.
This strategy is a variation of the compatible number strategy and involves taking one or more from one addition number to the other to make a sum. For example, if you have 68 + 57, you might say, “I can take two from 68 to make 70,” or “I can take four from 57 to make 55.”
You can also use a number line to practice counting on by putting each student in pairs and asking them to call out an addition problem and count on to find the answer. When they reach the correct answer, they can raise their hand and put a mark or initials on the number line at that point.
Other mental math strategies for addition include making a ten, using ten frames, and recognizing fact families. These strategies are helpful because they allow students to see the connections between the numbers and explain why they are related. These strategies can also help students learn how to solve addition and subtraction problems more quickly in their heads, which is an important skill for them to develop.
Subtraction – Mental Math Strategies
Subtraction, or the taking away of one number from another, is one of the most fundamental aspects of math. It is essential for young children to understand the concept of subtracting because it is a tool that they will use again and again throughout their education.
Whether you are a student struggling with a subtraction problem or a parent trying to help your child improve their mental math skills, there are many ways to make the process more effective. By understanding how to break a math problem into parts and using certain strategies, you can solve problems more quickly and easily in your head.
1. Count back or count up:
One strategy that students can use to solve subtraction problems is to count back from the minuend (the largest number) or count up from the subtrahend (the number being taken away). This method strengthens their understanding of how numbers work together and also helps them deepen their understanding of number sense.
2. Describe the subtraction problem:
Explaining a subtraction problem in a way that explains the process is a great way to make the math concept more clear and interesting for your child. You can use this format to develop their confidence with math and also test their knowledge of the concept.
3. Use word problems:
Word problems can be a fantastic way to teach subtraction to your students as they will encounter them again and again in their education. It is also a great opportunity to develop their ability to write maths equations and answer questions.
4. Use the decomposition algorithm:
Decomposing the subtrahend in parts is a great way to make subtraction easier for your students. This strategy can be used to solve problems that involve a single digit or multiple digit equations.
5. Expanding the Subtrahend:
When students are working with multi-digit subtraction equations, expanding the subtrahend is an excellent strategy to use. This strategy allows students to use expanded notation for their subtrahend and subtract the entire number in two steps.
This strategy is particularly effective when the subtrahend of an equation is either an 8 or a 9. It can be very difficult to solve problems with a subtrahend of a digit that is not in place value, so this is an important math skill to learn.
Multiplication – Mental Math Strategies For Addition
Multiplication is a powerful arithmetic operation that can be applied in a wide range of situations. It is used in many applications including architecture, business and home improvement.
It is also an important skill for students to develop in order to be able to perform basic mathematical calculations, such as calculating the area of a room or determining a product’s price. By practicing the correct strategies for multiplying, students can become more confident and efficient when tackling complex math problems.
To improve their mental math strategies, students can practice the use of factors to multiply multiple digits without having to memorize a large number of numbers in advance. This will allow them to focus on the task at hand and reduce the likelihood of calculating incorrect results in the future.
Moreover, they can use this strategy to quickly and easily solve difficult math problems that require them to calculate very large amounts of money or add and subtract big values. For example, if a student needs to determine the total amount of money that is needed for a project or to pay for a specific item at the grocery store, they can temporarily shift the values around in their head until they have the correct answer.
In addition to using factors, students can also use the commutative property of multiplication to simplify complex equations. This property states that a multiplication sentence (m x n) always equals n x m.
This can be confusing to students at first, but it will become easier with practice. To begin learning this strategy, students should start by mastering their single digit multiplication tables from 1 x 1 to 9 x 9.
As they continue to develop their skills and increase their confidence, they can move to using these strategies on complex mathematical problems. They can even apply them in daily life, such as multiplying the value of a dollar or double and tripling recipes they make.
Students can practice mental math strategies by playing a game online, such as Multiplication Blocks, or in a hands-on multiplication game they create with a partner. Teachers can use these games to promote a variety of mental math strategies and encourage students to apply them in their daily lives.
Division
Division is a basic operation in arithmetic that distributes a number into equal parts. It is often used in math to share an amount of money or a group of items, such as a basketball team. It is often denoted by the division symbol, a slash or a horizontal line with dots above and below it.
Division can be a difficult concept to grasp. It is important to remember that it is one of the four basic operations, along with addition, subtraction and multiplication.
To help students understand the concepts of division, you should introduce them to a number of examples. This will help them build mental math strategies that they can use to solve problems and answer questions.
In addition, it is important to help them learn the properties of division and understand its general formula, which is Dividend = (Divisor x Quotient) + Remainder. This will allow them to solve a variety of division problems without any trouble.
As they become more proficient at dividing, you can help them to improve their strategies with practice. You can also ask them to think of division problems that relate to their life.
For example, Sam wants to buy a new car. He is going to need to replace all of his tyres, and he needs to purchase the same amount for each tyre.
This can be difficult for students to remember if they don’t have division facts to hand, so it is important that you encourage them to practice and improve their skills with this subject. This can be done by using a range of resources such as manipulatives and virtual manipulatives on the interactive whiteboard.
Once children have mastered these mental math strategies, you can challenge them to work out division facts by hand. They can use a calculator for division calculations when they need to, but it is still important that they practice the process of division by hand so they don’t make any mistakes.
Once children have mastered the basics of division, you can try asking them to think of ways they could solve a variety of division problems without any help. These can include using the “compatible numbers” strategy, which is when you can use a relationship to solve a problem.