Mental Math Tricks for Kids – Math Magic for the Kids

Avatar of Ciaran Connolly
Updated on: Educator Review By: Michelle Connolly

Let the final number be the magical answer the kids will start their trick with, they will just choose to ask their friends or family members which they are doing the trick on to choose a specific number and then follow the calculations they will be guided through to get that final number.

The tricks are numerous and different and according to the final “magical” number which the whole game will be about, the steps and the calculations that are going to be done along the way will be different as well.

In this mental math trick, the final answer is 5 but in order to let the magic work, there are some steps and tips which the kids will need to follow: –

First, write number 5 on a piece of paper and place it in an envelope then seal it and follow the different steps related to the trick and eventually open the envelope and let them all wonder how did that happen. – The steps of the trick start with the person that you are doing this trick on to choose any number.

Let the person double the number they have chosen. – After doubling the number, add number 10 to it. – Now ask the person to divide the doubled number they have by number 2. – And the final step is to let them subtract the original number they have chosen from the beginning from the number they ended up with.

This should eventually bring number 5 as the final answer and make your magic trick work. There are some important tips which the kids should be paying attention to, such as letting them follow these different instructions and do the calculations in their minds or else on a piece of paper but never reveal the answers because that might ruin the magic – the most important thing is for the original number they have chosen to be kept as a secret.

Mental math means using the mind to record the different calculations which the kids will be doing in their minds instead of always recording them on paper and in this case all the calculations should be better done in mind.

This math trick is beneficial in both sides, the one doing the trick and the one who is receiving the game, the first one will learn mental math while practicing the trick and also through the self-confidence that will be gained and the second will also learn math through the different calculations that he/she will be doing to get the final answer.

Problem solving mental math tricks are amazing tools that greatly reduce the time taken to solve any kind of mental math problem. It also provides a delightful break from traditional long and arduous methods and will arouse your child’s curiosity in mental math . With these short-cut interesting math tricks, your child will be able to perform complicated math calculations in an easier and simpler way.

Learn about these wonderful prediction and problem-solving math tricks for kids that will definitely help your child improve their mental math skills.

Prediction Tricks

We have listed 12 amazing prediction magic mental math tricks for kids. Your kids will be using these fun tricks to impress their friends and will be a math wiz.

This trick is great for teaching addition.

1- In this trick, you will predict the sum of 4 numbers. 

Draw a 4 x 4 table in a piece of paper and write numbers from 1 to 16 in the boxes, the first row will have 1 to 4, the second row ill have 5 to 8, and so on. You will then tell your child that you will make a prediction and write the number “34” on another piece of paper without showing it and hand it to your child to be opened later.

Now, ask your child to circle any number in the table and then cross off all the numbers in the same row or column of the circled number. Again, ask to circle another number that has not been crossed off or circled, and repeat the process till there are only four circled numbers remaining and all other numbers have been crossed off. Let your child add the 4 numbers together and tell you the sum. Now, ask them to open the prediction paper. The answer will always be “34”.

2- You can teach this interesting mental math trick to your child to improve their arithmetic skills. 

On a piece of paper, you will write your prediction without showing and hand it to your child to be opened later. The answer will always be “8” for this trick. Ask your child to think of any number and then perform the following steps in order. 

  • Subtract 1 from the number
  • Multiply with 3
  • Add 12
  • Divide by 3
  • Add 5
  • Subtract the number your child thought of in the beginning from the number after all the calculations. 

You will then ask your child to open the prediction paper. And voila, the answer will be “8”.

Fun Math Tricks for Kids
Fun Math Tricks for Kids

3- This simple math trick is great for practicing arithmetic skills and finding the age of a person. 

To do so, your child will need to perform the following steps in order.

  • Ask the person to choose a number between two and ten
  • Multiply it by 2
  • Add 5 
  • Multiply by 50
  • Ask your friend if they’ve already celebrated their birthday for this year. 

(If the birthday has passed already, add 1767 and if the birthday is coming up, then ask them to add 1766 to the prior result) 

  • Subtract from this number the year that they were born. 
  • Add 3

The first digit of the number will be the original number thought of by the person. The remaining two numbers will be the age. This trick adds an element of fun and some serious arithmetic skills rather than the conventional method of counting age.

4- This amazing birthday easy math trick is also a great way to practice various arithmetic skills. 

For this trick, first ask your child to add 18 to their birth month. Consider January as 1, June as 6, etc. Then, the following steps need to be performed in order.

  • Multiply by 25
  • Subtract 333
  • Multiply by 8
  • Subtract 554
  • Divide by 2
  • Add their birth date
  • Multiply by 5
  • Add 692
  • Multiply by 20
  • Add only the last two digits of their birth year
  • Subtract 32940 

These steps will give the birth date in the format (MM-DD-YY). You can also use this as a calculator trick.

Mental Math Strategies for Addition
Mental Math Strategies for Addition

5- This magic math tricks for kids can be a great tool

To practice mental math and memorizing skills. The answer for this trick will always be “4”. Ask your child to think of any number and perform the following steps in order. You can provide a paper and pencil to the child so you can check the calculations.

  • Double the number 
  • Add 8, and keep the number in mind. 
  • Now, subtract half of this number from the number itself. 
  • Then subtract from this number, the original number your child thought of in the beginning. 

While your child is performing all the calculations, you can then pretend that you are reading your child’s mind. After your child finishes the calculations, you can say “The answer is 4”, and surprise your child. 

6- For this trick

you can ask your child to think of any 3 digit number write it on the paper, and show it to you. 

Ask your child to multiply the 3-digit number first by 7 and then followed by 11 and 13. Before the child starts multiplication, say that you will make a prediction. You will write your prediction down and hand it to your child to open it later. The answer for this simple math trick will be the same 3-digit number your child showed you in the beginning but in repeat. For example: The answer for 3-digit number 541 will be 541541. The child will do the calculations get the answer. Now, you can ask your child to see the prediction and have them tell you that you are a calculating wizard. 

7- In this mental math tricks for kids

you will make a prediction on a piece of paper as “37” and set it aside without showing your prediction. You will then ask your child to think of a 3-digit number where all 3 digits are the same like 222, 666, etc.

Ask your kid to add all the three digits together. Then divide the 3-digit number your child thought of by the sum of the number. You can then hand over your prediction and the child will be surprised at how you guessed the answer which will always be 37.

8- In this math magic tricks for kids

your prediction will always be 15. You can write the prediction on a paper, fold it, and hand it to your child beforehand. Ask your child to think of any number and multiply the number by 3. Then add 45 to the product and double the answer. After this, divide this number by 6 and subtract the original number from it. And, as predicted the answer is 15. It is a great way to increase fluency in addition and multiplication.

Magic Math Tricks for Kids
Magic Math Tricks for Kids

9- This is an interesting mental math trick

where you will begin with 2 digits and then reach the same 2 digits in the end after a series of arithmetic operations. This trick will leave your kids with amazement. To do, this trick, ask your child to think of any 2 digits.

  • Pick one of the digits and multiply by 2.
  • Add 5 to the product 
  • Multiply that answer by 5. 
  • Now, add the other digit you had chosen to this answer. 
  • Subtract 4 from that answer. 
  • Subtract 21 from the final answer. 

You will get the same two digits that your child thought of in the beginning.

Prediction math tricks are fun games to play that also teach basic math skills and helps your child understand the relationship between numbers in math.

10- For this trick

Ask your child to think of any 3 digit number, write it on the paper, and show it to you. 

Ask your child to multiply the 3-digit number first by 7 and then followed by 11 and 13. Before the child starts multiplication, say that you will make a prediction. You will write your prediction down and hand it to your child to open it later.

The answer for this simple math trick will be the same 3-digit number your child showed you in the beginning but in repeat. For example: The answer for 3-digit number 541 will be 541541. The child will do the calculations get the answer. Now, you can ask your child to see the prediction and have them tell you that you are a calculating wizard. 

Explore the previous examples and facts, and you will find yourself getting the necessary knowledge and information to fully grasp the concept of Mental Math Tricks. So, keep on visiting our Learning Mole to get more knowledge and information.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *