Class 4 mental maths - 7 Practices to Improve

As a math coach, I’ve seen closely how developing mental math skills at an early age can set the foundation for success in all areas of life. It’s incredible how applying these skills a few times daily can boost not just confidence but also the speed at which children can solve problems. In this post, I want to share seven key practices that I personally recommend to help improve mental math for Class 4 students. Let’s dive right in!

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1. Breaking addition and subtraction problems into parts;

One of my favorite strategies for boosting mental math skills is breaking down problems into smaller, more manageable parts. For example, take 748 + 236. Instead of adding it all at once, I encourage students to split it into hundreds, tens, and ones: 700 + 200, 40 + 30, and 8 + 6. Adding these gives you 984—so much easier! For subtraction, let’s look at 643 - 278. Instead of using borrowing, we can apply the concept of complements to find the answer more efficiently. I have discussed many methods for both subtraction and addition in my Mental Math Course, designed to help children master these concepts effortlessly.

2. Round numbers can be achieved by changing the problem.

Another powerful technique is rounding numbers to make mental calculations quicker. I always tell my students to make a small adjustment and keep track of it. For example, in the problem 596 + 380, round 596 to 600. Now, 600 + 380 is easy to solve (980). But don't forget to subtract that extra 4 we added—so the final answer is 976. Practicing this regularly can significantly improve their speed and accuracy. We can also use such method in subtraction to solve questions very fast.

3. Practice adding many digits at once.

One of my favorite tips is to encourage students to group numbers in ways that make addition faster. If you take the equation 7 + 2 + 9 + 13 + 8 + 61, you can pair numbers that are easier to add: (7 + 13), (2 + 8), and (9 + 61). This simplifies the problem into 20 + 10 + 70 = 100. It’s all about looking for patterns and groups, which makes mental math much more efficient.

4. Multiply from the left to the right.

When solving multiplication problems mentally, it’s much easier to work from left to right instead of starting with the ones place, as we usually do on paper. For example, with 453 x 4, begin with 400 x 4 = 1600, then move to 50 x 4 = 200, and finally 3 x 4 = 12. Add these up: 1600 + 200 + 12 = 1812. This approach helps students manage larger numbers more easily and boosts their confidence in handling complex calculations. My Multiplication Table Trick is especially helpful for quick and accurate multiplication like this. I’ve discussed many more methods for solving multiplication, including big numbers, in my Mental Math Course, making calculations simpler and faster for students.

5. Mental Multiplication: How to Multiply Numbers with 11 Mentally

There’s a neat trick for multiplying numbers by 11 that I love to teach my students. Take the number 36 and split it into 3 and 6. Now, add those digits (3 + 6 = 9) and place that sum between the original digits, giving you 396. This works for any two-digit number, and it’s always fun for students to see how fast they can get the answer!

6. Simplify issues involving numbers that terminate in zero.

Dealing with numbers that end in zero can often be simplified to make calculations faster and easier. Whether it’s addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division, I always recommend ignoring the zeros initially and then adding them back at the end. For example, with multiplication like 3000 x 500, you can simplify it to 3 x 5 = 15. Then, add the zeros back, resulting in 150,0000. This method works wonders across different operations.

I cover many strategies in greater detail in my Master Calculation Course at Welcome2Maths. In this course, we explore techniques like these to help students master calculations faster and more efficiently, making complex problems seem much simpler.

7. Convert percentage problems into simpler ones.

One of the key strategies I teach to simplify percentage problems is to break them into smaller, manageable parts. For example, to find 10% of 65, simply shift the decimal one place to the left, giving you 6.5. Once students grasp this, they can tackle more complex percentages by combining these smaller units. For instance, to find 5% of 80, you can first calculate 10% of 80 (which is 8), and then halve it, giving you 4.

Another great example is when you're working with 25% of a number. Since 25% is equivalent to one-quarter, you can simply divide the number by 4. So, for 25% of 160, divide 160 by 4, resulting in 40. These techniques allow students to solve percentage problems quickly and accurately.

In my Master Calculation Course at Welcome2Maths, we dive into these methods in greater depth, helping students develop the skills they need to approach percentages with ease and confidence.

Conclusion

By practicing these seven strategies regularly, students can greatly enhance their mental math abilities. As a math coach, I’ve seen how these techniques not only help kids become faster at calculations but also boost their overall confidence in math.

At Welcome2Maths, I offer specialized courses tailored to building mental math skills for Class 4 students. If you're looking to help your child master mental math, I invite you to explore my courses and see how these techniques can be implemented effectively. Let’s help your child become a math whiz today!

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