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LANTITE Numeracy / No-calculator practice

Mental arithmetic

No-calculator numeracy practice

No-calculator practice is about choosing efficient mental strategies, estimating first and checking whether an answer is sensible.

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Many no-calculator questions become easier when you split numbers, compensate, double and halve, or use common percentage benchmarks.

Useful strategies

  • Split numbers into tens and ones.
  • Compensate from a nearby round number.
  • Double and halve to simplify multiplication.
  • Use 10%, 5%, 25% and 50% as anchors.
  • Estimate before calculating exactly.

Practice examples

CompensationCalculate 99 x 8.100 x 8 = 800. Subtract 8. 800 - 8 = 792.

Answer: 792.

SplittingCalculate 47 + 36.47 + 30 = 77. 77 + 6 = 83.

Answer: 83.

PercentageFind 10% of 340.Divide by 10. 340 / 10 = 34.

Answer: 34.

No-calculator work is also a checking tool for calculator or written calculations.