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Math Hacks for Math Haters

From multiplication shortcuts to the quickest way to calculate a percentage in your head. Plus: Mental tricks to soothe your math anxiety.

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If you regularly find yourself sweating when it’s time to calculate a tip or convert a recipe measurement, you’re not alone. Many of us relied on memorization to (barely) pass math courses in school, and in our struggle, never really understood the relationships between the concepts we were studying. Not to worry—it’s never too late to learn simple tricks to confidently tackle some of the everyday calculations you dread. Read on for a roundup of useful math hacks to make your life easier, from multiplication shortcuts to the quickest way to calculate a percentage in your head.

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How to Calculate Percentages in Your Head [WATCH]

MindYourDecisions
YouTube

Can you calculate 85 percent of 24 in your head? This is not as hard as it sounds. If you know how to halve numbers and divide by 10 you can probably do this in your head. This video explains how to calculate many percentages as a combination of ones that are easier to compute.