Mental calculation is a cognitive process through which mathematical problems are solved without any type of outside help, relying exclusively on exploration, reflection and mental agility dyscalculia.
Learning mathematics in an easy and fun way depends on how we exercise or prepare our mind from a very early age to solve numerical problems. This is where mental calculation plays an essential role and becomes a key strategy to enhance the working memory of boys and girls.
But what is mental calculation and what types exist?
According to the mathematics graduate Martha Gómez Rosales, in her article ‘ Mental calculation as a strategy for learning mathematical content in primary education’ , we can define mental calculation as a mental or cognitive process through which mathematical problems are solved. without any type of outside help, relying exclusively on exploration, reflection and mental agility.
There are two types of mental calculation: mechanical calculation or stimulus-response, which is not recommended because it uses automatic techniques that can be easily forgotten, such as the simple memorization of data that are not remembered by our mind in a short time. On the other hand, we have the type of reflective calculation that makes use of concentration and analysis so that the most appropriate choice can be reached to solve a problem or make a decision.
For boys and girls to develop mental calculation, it is necessary that they be able to train their minds through practical exercises that put their mental agility into play. Therefore, we want to share with you 5 tips that will help children develop this skill:
- Keep in mind the value of the figure in a number. Given a number This will make it easier for us to solve any type of calculation we perform.
2. Addition and subtraction from left to right. When you perform these types of operations using mental calculation, it is better that you do it this way and not in a conventional way by using paper and pencil. For example, by adding 57 + 82, you find 50 + 80 = 130 and 7 + 2 = 9. Finally, you find 130 + 9 = 139.
3. Round the figures and simplify your calculations. There are figures that are more complex to add or subtract due to the diversity of their numbers, but this will not happen if you round the numbers when solving an operation. For example, when adding 139 + 49, here we add 1 to each given figure, then we will have 140 + 50 = 190. Subsequently, we subtract the two 1s that we added, which would give us 188 as a result, that is, the correct answer to the operation of 139 + 49.
4. Increase the values. When calculating multiplications of two or more figures, it can be useful to multiply them by a larger number and then divide. For example, 74 x You can multiply the first figure by 10 and then divide it by 2. It would look like this: 74 x 10 = 740 and then divide this result by 2, which will result in 370.
5. Do mental calculation exercises daily. Consistency is a fundamental factor to improve your mental agility and make mathematics more friendly to you.
Mental calculation helps girls and boys develop mathematical skills, but especially to solve problems that arise in everyday life. By enhancing their capacity for concentration, memory and reasoning, it gives them the necessary tools to learn to think logically and, in this way, make the right decisions in life.