How to Add Faster
Addition, as in counting out change during a purchase, is the most common mathematical activity a person performs. It is a nearly unconscious process for most persons. For example, choosing coins that equal 99 cents requires adding 9 numbers:
25+25+25+10+10+1+1+1+1=99
For almost anyone, addition can be sped up by modifying the rules we were taught for adding on paper.
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Instructions
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Addition On Paper versus Addition in the Mind
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Choose two two-digit numbers to add together: 36 and 29. On paper, it is normal to put the 29 directly under the 36 and begin addition with the right-hand column. Thus 6 plus 9 is 15. The five is written down, and the one is moved to the top of the left-hand column, above the 3. Then to the 1 is added the 3 and the 2 to give 6. The result is 65. For decades, that's the way people were taught addition taught in schools.
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Modify the rules. Perform addition in the mind by beginning with the left column, not the right column. Those numbers are 3 (from 36) and 2 (from 29). Since they are tens, convert them to 30 and 20. Addition of these gives 50. Keep the 50 in mind and turn to the "ones" column. Add the 6 to the 9 and get 15. Adding this 15 to the 50 gives 65. At first this may not seem a faster process, but the mind quickly adjusts and the becomes efficient at adding using this nontraditional method.
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Increase the difficulty by adding two digits to three, say 27 to 438. There is an additional step that increases speed in this instance---put the larger number first. Again, begin with the leftmost column, this time it is the "hundreds." 5 gives 500. Enter it in the memory. Move to the tens. 30 plus 20 equals 50. Add that to the 500 and replace it with the 550. Move to the right to the ones. 8 plus 7 equals 15. Add that to the 550 to get the answer, 565. Although this exercise was more difficult, practice speeds it up.
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Add a multiplication step, where practical. Reconsider the opening example of the 99 cents. Almost everyone quickly recognizes 3x25=75 and 2x10=20. And 1+1+1+1=4 is the same as multiplying 4 times 1. So by incorporating three very simple multiplication steps, the problem reduces to 75+20+4=99. Speed is enhanced. Addition is faster.
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Tips & Warnings
Practice and increase difficulty gradually over time. The mind is much like a muscle. Increase its strength by going to two three-digit numbers or to three two-digit numbers. Then make advancement by adding a four-digit number, and so on. Each hurdle makes the mind stronger and enables faster addition.
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