Digital Root – A simple and useful mathematical concept

Introduction

The digital root (DR) concept is the idea that any number greater than 9 can be reduced to a single
digit by adding the component digits of the number in one or more steps.

How to find the DR

Simply, add the individual digits of the number in one or more steps until you obtain a single digit
(1, 2, 3… or 9) and that is the digital root of that number. For example:
i. 42  4+2 = 6
ii. 84  8+4 = 12  1+2=3
iii. 737 7+3+7 = 171+7=8
iv. 6789 6+7+8+9 = 303+0 = 3

Shortcuts to finding the DR

1. The digital root of any number containing only 9s (such as 99 or 999 or 9999) is 9.
2. If there is one or more 9s in a number simply ignore them and add the remaining digits.
3. Look for digits that you can quickly add to 9, or to multiples of 9; ignore them and add the
remaining digits. For example:
i. 19  19  1
ii. 998  998  8
iii. 3198  3198  3
iv. 6566  6566  5
v. 7781  7781  7+7=14 1+45

Use the DR concept in school work

Mastering the DR concept can help you improve your numeracy skills and to achieve better grades
at school. This is because the DR concept can be used to check that your answers to your arithmetic
problems are correct.

Basically, in any addition, subtraction or multiplication problems the final DR on either side of an
equation must be the same. The DR can also be used to double check your division problems
although the steps are slightly different.

Here, I will demonstrate how you can use the DR to check that your answers to arithmetic problems
are correct.

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 Digital Root – A simple and useful mathematical concept
Addition (A + B = C)
Is the answer
Addition A + B = C correct ( or )?
Why or why not?

Example 1 27 + 32 = 59

Work out DR of numbers on either

9 5 5
side of equation

Add and find the final DR on left
DR of 5 on both
side of equation; check if it equals DR 9+55 5
sides of the
on right side of equation
equation

Example 2 47 + 26 = 74

Work out DR of numbers on either

2 8 2
side of equation


Add and find the final DR on left
DR of 1 on one side
side of equation; check if it equals DR 2 + 8 = 10  1 2
and 2 on other side
on right side of equation
of the equation

Example 3: Try this 47 + 26 = 73

Work out DR of numbers on either

side of equation
Add and find the final DR on left
side of equation; check if it equals DR
on right side of equation

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 Digital Root – A simple and useful mathematical concept
Subtraction (A – B = C)

Note: In subtracting the DR of B from the DR of A it is possible that we may end up with 0 or a
negative value. If we do get such a value we need to find the complement digital root value – all we
need to do is add 9 to it.

Is the answer
Subtraction A - B = C correct ( or )?
Why or why not?

Example 1 99 - 26 = 73

Work out DR of numbers on either

9 8 1
side of equation

Subtract and find the final DR on


left side of equation; if it is not 0 or a
9–8=1 1 DR of 1 on both sides
negative number check if it equals
of the equation
DR on right side of equation.

Example 2 133 - 52 = 81

Work out DR of numbers on either

7 7 9
side of equation
7-7= 0; since it is 0
Subtract and find the final DR on
we find its 
left side of equation; if it is not 0 or a
complement by 9 DR of 9 on both sides
negative number check if it equals
adding 9, i.e. 0 + 9 = of the equation
DR on right side of equation.
9
Example 3 74 - 26 = 48

Work out DR of numbers on either

2 8 3
side of equation
2 – 8 = -6; since it is
Subtract and find the final DR on
a negative value we 
left side of equation; if it is not 0 or a
find its complement 3 DR of 3 on both sides
negative number check if it equals
by adding 9 i.e. -6 + of the equation
DR on right side of equation.
9=3
Example 4 567 - 444 = 223

Work out DR of numbers on either

9 3 7
side of equation
Subtract and find the final DR on 
left side of equation; if it is not 0 or a DR of 6 on one side
9-3=6 7
negative number check if it equals and 7 on other side of
DR on right side of equation. equation

Example 5: Try this 567 - 444 = 123

Work out DR of numbers on either

side of equation

Subtract and find the final DR on

left side of equation; if it is not 0 or a
negative number check if it equals
DR on right side of equation.

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 Digital Root – A simple and useful mathematical concept
Multiplication (A x B = C)
Is the answer
Multiplication A X B = C correct ( or )?
Why or why not?
Example 1 15 x 14 = 210

Work out DR of numbers on

6 5 3
either side of equation

Multiply and find the final DR on DR of 3 on both
left side of equation; check if it equals 6 x 5 = 30 3 3
sides of the
DR on right side of equation.
equation
Example 2 24 x 36 = 863
Work out DR of numbers on
6 9 
either side of equation

Multiply and find the final DR on DR of 9 on one
left side of equation; check if it equals 6 x 9 = 54 9 8 side and 8 on
DR on right side of equation. other side of
equation
Example 3: Try this 14 x 37 = 618
Work out DR of numbers on
either side of equation

Multiply and find the final DR on

left side of equation; check if it equals
DR on right side of equation.

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 Digital Root – A simple and useful mathematical concept
Division (A/B=C + Remainder)

To use the digital root (DR) concept to check your divisions we follow a slightly different rule i.e. the
DR of A must be the same as the DR(B) multiplied by the DR(C) plus the DR(R) (R is the remainder
in whole number, if any).
Is the answer
Division A  B = C R correct ( or )?
Why or why not?
Example 1 480  20 = 24 0

Work out DR of A, B, C and

3 2 6 0
R

Reorganise the problem A = BxC+R

Multiply DR of B and C 
and add to it DR of R. DR of 3 on both
Find final DR and check if it 3 2 x 6 + 0 = 12  3
sides of the
equals DR on left side of
equation
equation.

Example 2 916  16 = 57 4

Find DR of A, B, C and R 7 7 3 4

Reorganise the problem A = BxC+R

Multiply DR of B and C 
and add to it DR of R. DR of 7 on both
Find final DR and check if it 7 7 x 3 + 4 = 25  7
sides of the
equals DR on left side of
equation
equation.

Example 3 123  11 = 11 1

Find DR of A, B, C and R 6 2 2 1

Multiply DR of B and C 
and add to it DR of R. DR of 6 on one
Find final DR and check if it 6 2x2+15 side and 5 on
equals DR on left side of other side of
equation. equation
Example 4: Try this 623  17 = 36 7

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 Digital Root – A simple and useful mathematical concept
Note:

You can also use the DR concept to check more complex arithmetic problems. Just remember to
follow the mathematical BODMAS rule, i.e. solve brackets, orders (i.e. powers, square roots etc.),
division, multiplication, addition and subtraction

Example 1
20 x 3 +14 = 74
DR on right side is 2
DR on left side of equation is 2 x 3 + 5  6 + 5  11  2
Your answer is correct

Example 2
(4+3)2 + 7 – 2x6= 44
DR on right side is 8
DR on left side of equation is 7 x 7 + 7 – 12  49 + 7-3  11 – 3  8
Your answer is correct

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