Importance of Mental Maths

Why is Mental Maths Important?

Mental Math is very important in everyday life. When we go to a shop in the market or visit Amazon or a Flipkart for shopping, even the discount calculations or bargain offers can be best analysed when you are good at mental maths. Watching cricket and even calculations of run-rate to find out which team would win, could be done best when you how to do math calculations in the head or there shall be a very heavy dependence on calculators. Sometimes due to slow calculations, one tends to develop math fear. Not only does it leads to scoring lower in maths, however, one feels live not to attend maths lessons at all.

Errors or Common mistakes generally kids do in maths :

• Addition & Subtraction-

We have many a time seen that children do finger counting in addition and subtraction. Finger counting may be good at the age of 3-6 however beyond that students’ number calculations in maths rises to 3 or maybe 6 digits and beyond in the age group of 8-10 years for addition and subtraction. Using finger counting or using the concepts of borrows and carry would take time for kids to do the sums. Children when in school many a time struggle in maths due to slow in calculations. For Example, Single digit to single-digit addition may be easy, however when we start double to single or double-digit addition, then a child may do rough work, or carry over for addition may make him a little slower.

• Multiplication & Division- Conventional methods on multiplication and division are generally lengthy as we have learned in schools. So when students appear in math Olympiad and mental ability competitions, they have to do maths sums in just a few seconds as they don't get much time. Hence with conventional methods they would be able to do it, however they would take a lot of time for that. For Example, multiplying 25 x 25, a child of grade 3 or 4 may take 30 seconds to 1 minute. Hence slow calculations during the exam may sometimes lead to some questions being unattempted and hence lower scores.

• Questions on Numbers and Numeration: Children generally get confused in the questions related to number concepts like whole numbers, integers, and natural numbers. So understanding their definitions, properties with examples is important.

• Understanding Word Problems:

Many a time kids get confused with the tricky math questions. Understanding the word problems is very important. Forming the right statement and then concluding with the answer helps however a daily practice is required for sure.

Hence understanding concepts in maths is required however if you build speed and accuracy through mental maths skills, it really helps. Know more about Mental Maths.

Let's Find out How Mental Maths skills can be developed

There are several ways to develop mental maths. Yes, everyday practice is required for sure. However, there are certain programs that have helped kids a lot. By doing these courses they have been able to score higher in math exams and math olympiads. Know these ways below:-

1. Vedic Maths: This is a program with a lot of short-cut tricks and techniques. I have seen children who do it at an early age like the 8 years or above, they do not need to crame multiplication tables for 12-19. Making the children learn the tables from 12-19 is difficult for many parents. Up to 9, all children are comfortable. Vedic Maths has certain techniques in its Vedic Sutras, when children get to know of this they do not need to rot learn tables. Similarly for addition, subtraction, division, roots, squares, square roots, and cube roots there are a lot of techniques for faster calculations in Vedic Maths. Application of Vedic Maths can be seen in algebra and geometry also. The children from grades 2-9 can opt for it and it is most easy to pick up mental maths with it. This is a short-term course and very easy to pick up. Know more about Vedic Maths.

2. Grow With Maths: It is a syllabus-based program having a grade-wise system of learning for maths. The learning methodology is with practice worksheets, quizzes, and activities. Check out Math Tutoring Program.

3. Abacus: The program is based on an abacus tool with abacus beads. The moving of abacus beads helps children learning fast calculation methods. Generally, children start learning via abacus at the age of 6 or 7 and it is a two to three years program. Know more about Abacus.

Conclusion: All three methods are good for children. Vedic Maths is a shorter program and therefore Vedic maths has more merits comparatively and in the abacus, the time duration is longer. However, both develop strong mental maths skills of children. Grow with Maths is a grade-wise curriculum and hence it has its own benefits of detailed conceptual learning. I am sure knowing the above ways will be very beneficial for your child for maths. One can opt for any of the above to develop the mental maths skills of a child.