The MentalMath blog
A collection of useful articles on mental arithmetic, memory training, brain games and child development. Practical tips for parents and teachers.
Small Friends (Pairs of 5): The First Step on the Abacus
What is the "small friends" formula on the abacus, and why is it the most important first step in mental arithmetic? Pairs 1-4 and 2-3, addition and subtraction rules with clear examples.
The Trachtenberg System: Multiplying by 11, 12, 9 and 6 Without Paper
The Trachtenberg system is a set of rules that lets you multiply without knowing the times tables. Rules for 11, 12, 9 and 6 with worked examples and checks.
Vedic Mathematics: Nikhilam and Urdhva Explained
What is Vedic mathematics and how does it work? Multiplying by base 100 and 1000 (Nikhilam), the vertically-and-crosswise method (Urdhva), and squaring numbers ending in 5.
Your Child Counts on Fingers: Should You Stop It, and How?
Finger counting is a stage, not a problem. When it is perfectly normal, when to be concerned, and how to move a child step by step toward calculating in their head.
What Is Flash Anzan and Why It Is the Final Stage
Adding numbers that flash on screen for a fraction of a second is flash anzan. How it works, what the mental abacus is, who it suits and how to train it properly.
Phone Addiction in Children: How to Make Screen Time Useful
Is your child glued to the phone? Signs of phone addiction, why outright bans fail, and practical steps to turn screen time into something genuinely useful.
How to Memorize the Multiplication Table Easily and Fast
Is the multiplication table a struggle for your child? Start with understanding, follow an easy order, use the symmetry secret, finger tricks and games — a practical roadmap for parents.
What Is Mental Arithmetic? A Complete Guide for Parents
What is mental arithmetic, how does it work, and what does it really give a child? From the abacus to calculating in the head — methods, age, myths, and how to start at home.
Fast Calculation Techniques: 7 Ways to Speed Up Mental Math
7 practical techniques that noticeably speed up mental calculation: rounding, the magic of multiplying by 11 and 9, squaring tricks and the Vedic method — with worked examples.