Calculate Faster Than a Calculator: 5 Tricks for Quicker Calculations

Is mathematics the subject you always fear? Do you rely on the calculator to make mathematical calculations? If yes, you don’t have to anymore. There are a number of tricks that can help you get better at calculations and calculate even faster than calculators. Surprised? Well, it is true, possible, and actually works.

While making calculations, most people compromise either on speed or accuracy. However, you do not have to compromise one either of the two anymore. Here are the five best tricks that can help you calculate faster than a calculator and get accurate answers.

1. Squaring the Number

Finding the square of numbers is quite tricky at times. While squaring single-digit numbers is easy, finding the square of a double-digit or triple-digit number is complex and time-consuming. Moreover, there are also high chances that you might end up getting the wrong answers due to some calculation mistakes in between.

However, an easy way to find the squares of different numbers is to try out the simple approaches and quick tricks. It will not only save your time but also reduce your stress and help you find the correct answers. If you are willing to try out the trick to find the squares of numbers easily, here are the steps you need to follow.

Step 1: Find a base that is quite closer to the given number.
Step 2: Calculate the difference of the given number from the selected base.
Step 3: Next, add the difference you found to the given number.
Step 4: Multiply the outcome of step 3 with the base.
Step 5: Now, add the result of step 4 with the difference between the given number and the selected base. This will give you the final answer.

In order to understand the trick better, let’s take the help of an example.

Suppose you need to find the square of 79.

Step 1: Select 80 as your base number.
Step 2: Difference = 79 – 80 = -1
Step 3: Given number + Difference = 79 + (-1) = 78
Step 4: Multiplication of the result with base = 78 × 80 = 6240
Step 5: 6080 + (-1)2 = 6241

So, 6241 is the square of 79.

2. Adding and Subtraction Fractions

While adding and subtracting simple numbers is easy, it becomes difficult when fractions are involved. However, utilizing the “vertical and crosswise” approach of Vedic mathematics can make things easier for you.

Here is a simple example of how the method actually works.

Let’s take a problem: 2/4 + 1/5

In order to find the resulting numerator, cross multiply the numbers and add them.
So, for the given problem, resulting numerator = (2 x 5) + (4 x 1) = 10 + 4 = 14
In order to find the resulting denominator, simply multiply the denominators.
So, in this case, the resulting denominator = 4 x 5 = 20
So, the final answer of the fraction addition is 14/20.

3. Squaring numbers that end with 5

Many people may be familiar with this mathematics trick. However, if this is new for you, nothing to worry about; you can learn it right away. This trick is quite simple and easy. All you need to do is leave the last digit that is 5 and multiply the remaining digit with its successive number. When you get the result, put 25 in the end. This will give you the final answer.

Let’s understand this better with the help of an example.

Suppose you have to find the square of 75.

Step 1: 7 x (7+1) = 56
Step 2: 5625
So, the square of 75 is 5625.

4. Multiplying two-digit numbers by 11

When you want to get answers to multiplications in just two seconds, make sure to use this excellent trick. It is one of the popular Vedic tricks that makes calculations much easy in mathematics than you can imagine.

When you want to multiply a two-digit number by 11, first write down the digits in this pattern:

First digit [ sum of the two digits] second digit
The answer you get is the final result. This is surprisingly easy. Isn’t it? Let’s try.
In order to understand this better, let’s take an example.
Imagine that you need to find the solution of 52 x 11.
By following the pattern, you get:
5[5+2]2 = 572
So, when you multiply 52 by 11, the answer will be 572.
However, when the sum of two digits is again a two-digit number, keep the digit in the unit place and then add ‘1’ to the digit that precedes it.
To help you understand better, here is an example.
48 x 11
= 4[4+8]8
= 4[12]8
= 4+1 [2]8
= 528
So, by multiplying 48 by 11, the final answer is 528.

5. Sequentially Calculating the Square of any number

When a given number is supposedly a successor of another number whose square is known to you, it is quite easy to calculate the square sequentially. In order to make this easier to understand, let’s take an example.
Given Problem = square of 141
The given number 141 is a successor of 140, which is a known square.
So, to find out the square of 141, an easy way is:
(141)2 = (140)2 + 141 + 140 = 19600 + 281 = 19881
So, 19881 is the square of the given number 141.
You can use this trick to easily find out the squares of other two-digit numbers, which are a successor of known squares.

Conclusion

Now that you know the five tricks of making calculations faster, start applying them and experience the fun of solving problems in a jiffy. Maths is actually not a very tough subject as most students think. You just need to know the right tricks to excel in the subject. Once you know the tricks, you are sure to have great fun and enjoy doing maths. Moreover, the tricks can help you save time and enhance your efficiency.