However, it is important that pupils understand that completing calculations mentally is not always the best strategy. They need to become adept at analysing a calculation to decide if it is best to complete it using a mental or a written strategy. When multiplying by a multiple of 10, pupils can partition the multiple of ten to make the calculation easier to solve. In this example, the pupil could partition 40 into 10 x 4. This makes the calculation far easier to solve as they can multiply 4 by 5, then multiply the product by 10. Mental maths questions: multiplying and dividing by 100 (and related calculations)

Here are some ideas about how you can help your learners develop these vital mental maths skills. Use alongside the mental maths questions to give children a range of ways to practise. There is also a lot of mathematical vocabulary related to subtraction. When your child tells you the answer to a subtraction calculation, encourage them to refer to this as the difference. For example, ‘7 – 3 = 4’ could be read as ‘the difference between 7 and 3 is 4’. They should also try to use the language take away, subtract, minus, less, fewer, and so on. Mental Calculations Two-Step Word Problems Worksheet - this resource includes a range of mental maths questions for children to answer. They'll need to use their problem-solving skills to break the codes. To solve the division calculations, pupils may find it easier to complete the inverse, for example 72 ÷ 9 is the same as 9 x ? = 72. They can then use a multiplication method to find the answer. Mental maths questions: multiplying and dividing by 10 (and multiples of 10) In this section we look at real life uses for mental calculations. Mental maths questions: word problem exampleArithmagic Maths Practice Game- playing this interactive game is a great way of practising adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing numbers. No printing is required - simply launch, and you're good to go. Designed by teachers in line with the curriculum, these mental addition problems are great to use at the end of a module to assess children's progress. While a question might suggest using a mental method, an inefficient method could confuse the pupil and take them far longer than necessary to solve. If when adding 9 to a number, for example, the pupil counts in ones instead of adding 10 and adjusting, they are using an inefficient and slow method.

You can improve your pupils' confidence in being able to add and subtract numbers mentally, with our fabulous range of teaching resources on mental maths for the year 3 maths 2014 national curriculum.Number and Place Value: Children will be able to practise counting in multiples, recognising the place value of each digit in a three-digit number and more. If your child is working on a problem and they announce the answer, ask them to explain how they solved the problem. They could draw pictures or diagrams to help them explain their method.

Adding decimals mentally can be difficult. This is the type of question where estimating, using whole numbers and jottings can be helpful. By estimating the answer first, pupils will get a good idea of what their answer should be. If, when finding the exact answer, the two are vastly different, pupils will know they have made a mistake. This does rely on pupils understanding how to estimate accurately. Pupils will start learning how to add numbers in their head in primary school. They'll practise applying their increasing knowledge of mental methods to solve addition problems.You'll also want to take a look at these incredible Adding and Subtracting Three-Digit Numbers and Ones, Tens and Hundreds Differentiated Worksheets too, for some more classroom fun. Until pupils are confident with a range of different methods and explaining their method, it is often useful to provide them with a range of concrete and pictorial representations. Eventually, these can be removed and pupils can work with the abstract concepts alone, as is exemplified with the second question. Pupils should be able to use the information gained in the first question to help them solve the second question. Year 2 children are expected to add three one-digit numbers. With question d, pupils should look for number bonds first. If they can see that 7 + 3 = 10, solving the rest of the calculation becomes much easier. When solving this calculation, it is essential that pupils understand that addition is commutative. Mental maths questions: addition and subtraction example Our selection of engaging games and activities, including our collection of mental maths online games for KS2, are here to ensure that your learners are able to build confidence and fluency with mental maths. These worksheets are designed to save teachers time and provide quality educational resources for children. They are best used in conjunction with some explanatory teaching on whatever subject you are studying. After you've introduced a particular topic, say multiplying 2-digit numbers, then give your children the accompanying worksheet to have a go at. This is a great way to get them to practise their skills and test how well they've understood the teaching you've outlined.