2. Multiplying by 11
Let me illustrate:
First write down the 6 then add 6 to its neighbor on the left, 3, to get 9.
The answer comes from these sums and edge numbers: (3)(3+2)(2+5)(5+4)(4)
= 35794.
To multiply by 25 you multiply by 100 (just add two 0’s to the end of the
number) then divide by 4, since 100 = 25×4. Note: to divide by 4 your can just
divide by 2 twice, since 2×2 = 4.
To multiply by 125, you multipy by 1000 then divide by 8 since 8×125 = 1000.
Notice that 8 = 2×2x2. So, to divide by 1000 add three 0’s to the number and
divide by 2 three times.
32×125 = 32000/8 = 16000/4 = 8000/2 = 4000.
This trick only works if you’ve memorized or can quickly calculate the squares
of numbers. If you’re able to memorize some squares and use the tricks
described later for some kinds of numbers you’ll be able to quickly multiply
together many pairs of numbers that differ by 2, or 4, or 6.
When two numbers differ by two their product is always the square of the
number in between them minus 1.
If two numbers differ by 4 then their product is the square of the number in the
middle (the average of the two numbers) minus 4.
If the two numbers differ by 6 then their product is the square of their average
minus 9.
If a number ends in 5 then its square always ends in 25. To get the rest of the
product take the left digit and multiply it by one more than itself.
35×35 ends in 25. We get the rest of the product by multiplying 3 by one more
than 3. So, 3×4 = 12 and that’s the rest of the product. Thus, 35×35 = 1225.
To calculate 65×65, notice that 6×7 = 42 and write down 4225 as the answer.
6. Multiplying together 2-digit numbers where the first digits are the same
and the last digits sum to 10
Let’s say you want to multiply 42 by 48. You notice that the first digit is 4 in
both cases. You also notice that the other digits, 2 and 8, sum to 10. You can
then use this trick: multiply the first digit by one more than itself to get the first
part of the answer and multiply the last digits together to get the second (right)
part of the answer.
An illustration is in order:
To calculate 42×48: Multiply 4 by 4+1. So, 4×5 = 20. Write down 20.
Multiply together the last digits: 2×8 = 16. Write down 16.
Notice that for this particular example you could also have noticed that 42 and
48 differ by 6 and have applied technique number 4.
Another example: 64×66. 6×7 = 42. 4×6 = 24. The product is 4224.
A final example: 86×84. 8×9 = 72. 6×4 = 24. The product is 7224
Let’s say you want to square 58. Square each digit and write a partial answer.
5×5 = 25. 8×8 = 64. Write down 2564 to start. Then, multiply the two digits of
the number you’re squaring together, 5×8=40.
32×32. The first part of the answer comes from squaring 3 and 2.
3×3=9. 2×2 = 4. Write down 0904. Notice the extra zeros. It’s important that
every square in the partial product have two digits.
Multiply the digits, 2 and 3, together and double the whole thing. 2×3x2 = 12.
Add a zero to get 120. Add 120 to the partial product, 0904, and we get 1024.
56×56. The partial product comes from 5×5 and 6×6. Write down 2536.
One more example: 67×67. Write down 3649 as the partial product.
67×67=3649+840 = 4489.
There are cases when you’re multiplying two numbers together and one of the
numbers is even. In this case you can divide that number by two and multiply
the other number by 2. You can do this over and over until you get to
multiplication this is easy for you to do.
Another example: 12×15 = 6×30 = 6×3 with a 0 at the end so it’s 180.
48×17 = 24×34 = 12×68 = 6×136 = 3×272 = 816. (Being able to calculate that
3×27 = 81 in your head is very helpful for this problem.)
9. Multiplying by a power of 2
Practice these tricks and you’ll get good at solving many different kinds of
arithmetic problems in your head, or at least quickly on paper. Half the fun is
identifying which trick to use. Sometimes more than one trick will apply and
you’ll get to choose which one is easiest for a particular problem.
Reference:
http://wildaboutmath.com/2007/11/11/impress-your-friends-with-mental-math-tricks/