- Calculating commute times to desired locations, such as work, school, sporting events or meetings, require knowledge of distance between locations and speed to determine arrival times.
- Figuring out the correct change you will receive from a purchase requires simple subtraction. Doing the math in your head ahead of time makes you immediately aware if you are shortchanged.
- Determining the price of an item on sale prior to purchasing requires deducting the percentage off from the original price. If a $50 item is 30 percent off, you can find out how much will come off the price by multiplying 0.3 by 50, which equals 15, or $15 off.
- Saving up for something expensive involves finding the difference between existing funds and desired funds, giving you the amount you need to save. Doing the calculation between the time you start saving and your deadline allows you to see how far you are from your goal.
- Driving a vehicle, riding a bicycle, skateboarding or rollerblading requires accurate judgment for following distance to avoid crashes. This is also a form of mental math.
- Following a recipe requires you to measure ingredients, plus you must adjust the cooking time and temperature to produce a palatable meal.
