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Mental Math Strategies

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Mental Math Strategies

Solve each problem using a mental strategy. Show a few steps where asked. For multiple-choice questions, choose one answer.

Double and halve

Use doubling or halving to make a calculation easier.

1.Work out 7 × 6 by doubling 7 × 3.

2.Use halving twice to solve 64 ÷ 4. Write the two halving steps.

3.Which is a useful mental strategy for finding 6 × 5?

Find 6 × 10, then halve the answer
Find 6 × 10, then add 6
Find 5 × 5, then subtract 6

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4.How many dots are in the array? Write a multiplication fact and its answer.

Build on facts you know

Use a familiar multiplication fact to solve a related calculation.

5.If 8 × 7 = 56, complete this calculation: 8 × 8 = 56 + = .

6.Use 9 × 5 = 45 to work out 9 × 10.

7.Which method gives 20 × 5 most directly?

Double 20, then double again, then add 20
Think of five groups of 20, which is 100
Subtract 5 from 20

8.Match each calculation with its answer.

6 × 8
54 ÷ 6
7 × 7
36 ÷ 3

Split numbers apart

Break a number into easier parts, calculate each part, then combine the results.

9.Split 16 into 10 and 6 to solve 16 × 4. Complete: (10 × 4) + (6 × 4) = + = .

10.Use 50 ÷ 5 and 20 ÷ 5 to work out 70 ÷ 5.

11.Challenge: Work out 18 × 15 by splitting 15 into 10 and 5.

12.Which mental strategy would you choose for 32 × 5: halve 32 and multiply by 10, or double 32 and multiply by 5? Give the answer and explain your choice.