Marvelous Math Tricks, Susan C.

Anthony

Marvelous Math Tricks

Susan C. Anthony, P.O. Box 111704, Anchorage, AK 99511, 907-345-6689, SusanCAnthony.com

Krypto
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Palo Alto, CA 94303-0879. Telephone 800-872-1100

Math Facts in Five Minutes a Day

Adding by Endings
Use this technique with column addition. You will need a red pen. Begin adding each
column from top to bottom. Whenever you reach a two-digit sum, make a red dot for the
ten and keep the ending (the ones) in your mind. At the bottom of the column, write
down the number left in your head and count the dots for the number to carry.

Casting 9’s
Use to check addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Directions in handout.

Gelosia Multiplication
Challenge children to do big multiplication problems. Directions in handout.

Add by endings: Cast 9’s for practice: Multiply with Gelosia method:
35,263 47 __ 4,265 x 921
82,914 255 __
74,635 819 __
65,033 3,212 __
91,943 4,531 __
28,602 9,306 __
+15,355 38,267 __
846,787 __
Cast 9’s to check:

468 833 692 1,243 483

+327 x532 -325 -746 75)36,225
795 443,156 367 497
©1997 Susan C. Anthony
Marvelous Math Tricks, Susan C. Anthony

Gelosia Multiplication

T he Gelosia method of multiplication predates the common algorithm. It is useful for

doing very large multiplication problems. Students who can multiply large numbers
feel quite confident to solve the smaller problems usually required of them. This handout
will demonstrate the use of the Gelosia method to solve the following two problems:
238 36,294 multiplicand
x 49 x 48,620 multiplier
11,662 1,764,614,280 product (answer)

Step 1: Using half-inch graph 2 3 8 3 6 2 9 4

paper, make a grid with a 4
4
square for each digit in the
multiplicand across the top and 8
9
a square for each digit in the 6
multiplier down the right. Use
a ruler to draw diagonal lines 2
inside the grid as shown.
0

Step 2: Fill in the grid with 2 3 8 3 6 2 9 4

answers to each set of facts as 0 1 3 1 2 0 3 1
4 2 4 8 6 6 4
shown. Tens go in the top half 8 2 2
2 4 1 7 3
of the box, units in the bottom. 1 2 7 4 8 6 2 2 8
9
5 3 0 8 7 2 1 3 1 5 2
8 6 2 4 4 6
1 0 0
3 2 0 0 1 0 1 0
5 6 0 6 2 4 8 8 2
5x3=15 3x2=06 0x0=00 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0

Step 3: Add the columns 2 3 8 3 6 2 9 4

diagonally (add by endings) 0 1 3 1 21 03 33 12 1
1 4 1 2 4 8 6 6 4
and write the sum of each 8 2 2
2 4 1 7 3 1
column below or beside where 1 2 7 7 4 8 6 2 2 8
1 9
the column ends. Carry tens to 8 7 2
6
1 3 1 5 2
6
the next column. Then copy 8 6 2 4 4
6 6 2
0 1 0 1 0
the product, starting at the top Product: 11,662 4 6 2 4 8 8 2
left and going around the 0 0 0 0 0
6 0
bottom as shown. Add commas 0 0 0 0 0
and check by casting 9’s. 1 4 2 8 3
0
©1997 Susan C. Anthony Product: 1,764,614,280
 Marvelous Math Tricks, Susan C. Anthony

Casting Nines

C asting nines is a method of checking the accuracy of math calculations in addition,

subtraction, multiplication and division. It is a “quick check” which flags wrong
answers. A great many mistakes in calculation are the result of careless errors and
people’s reluctance to spend time checking their work. Casting nines is quick and easy,
once mastered, and many students consider it a game. In many cases, students who
learn and apply this technique will get better grades and have more fun in math. When
teachers don’t have to deal with careless errors, it is possible to move on more quickly
to new math concepts. Warning: This checking method has a limitation. It can
occasionally fail to flag a wrong answer. This happens when a zero is added or left out,
when there is a transposition such as 3,528 instead of 3,582, and in a few other cases.

To cast nines from a number, add the digits:

17 1+7=8 8 is the result of casting the nines.

If the sum of the digits is nine, cast (throw away) the nine. It becomes a zero.
36 3+6=9 9–9=0 0 is the result of casting the nines.

If the sum of the digits is more than nine, cast the nines. You will always end up with
just one digit when this is completed: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8.
28 2 + 8 = 10 10 – 9 = 1 1 is the result of casting the nines

Instead of subtracting the nine from a two-digit number as shown above, you may add
the two digits. The result is the same.
28 2 + 8 = 10 1+0=1 1 is the result of casting the nines

Here is an example of casting nines from a large number:

5,628 5 + 6 = 11, 1 + 1 (from the 11) = 2
2 (from the 5 + 6) + 2 (the next digit in 5,628) = 4
4 (from the 2 + 2 above) + 8 (next digit) = 12, 1 + 2 (from 12) = 3
3 is the result of casting nines from 5,628

To speed up casting nines from large numbers, look for and lightly cross out nines or
combinations which equal nine. Add the remaining digits. For example:
5,629,384,272
5,629,384,272 Cross out any nines.
5,629,384,272 Cross out any combinations which make 9: 5+2+2, 6+3, 7+2
Then add any digits still not crossed out: 8 + 4 = 12, 1 + 2 (from the 12) = 3
3 is the result of casting nines from 5,629,384,272.

Once you are able to cast nines from any number, use it to check problems as shown on
the following page.
©1995 Susan C. Anthony. From Casting 9’s: A Quick Check for Math Computation
Marvelous Math Tricks, Susan C. Anthony

Checking Addition
Cast nines from both addends and add the one-digit results for the “check number”
(circled). Cast nines from the sum. The results must match or the answer is wrong.
addend 38 cast nines from 38: 3 + 8 = 11, 1 + 1 = 2
addend +76 cast nines from 76: 7 + 6 = 13, 1 + 3 = +4
sum 114 add the two digits to get check number 6
Then cast nines from the sum, 114: 1 + 1 = 2 + 4 = 6. This must match the check
number. If there is no match, thoroughly check the problem to locate and fix the error.

Checking Multiplication
Cast nines from the multiplicand and the multiplier and multiply the one-digit results for
the “check number” (circled). Cast nines from the product. The results must match.
multiplicand 78 cast nines from 78: 7 + 8 = 15, 1 + 5 = 6
multiplier x 8 cast nines from 8 (no nines to cast) = x8
product 624 multiply the two digits 48
Cast nines from the 48 to get the 1-digit check number: 4 + 8 = 12, 1 + 2= 3
Then cast nines from the product, 624: 6 + 2 = 8 + 4 = 12, 1 + 2 (from the 12) = 3

Checking Subtraction
Cast nines from the minuend and the subtrahend. Subtract for the “check number”
(circled). Cast nines from the difference. The result must equal the check number.
minuend 53 cast nines from 53: 5 + 3 = 8
subtrahend – 38 cast nines from 38: 3 + 8 = 11, 1 + 1 = –2
difference 15 subtract the two digits to get check number 6
Then cast nines from the difference, 15: 1 + 5 = 6. This must match the check number.

In subtraction, the one-digit result on the bottom (subtrahend) may be larger than that on
the top (minuend). If this occurs, add a nine to the minuend so subtraction is possible, as
shown below. Continue as described above.
minuend 93 cast nines from 93: 3 + 9 =12
subtrahend – 44 cast nines from 44: 4 + 4 = –8 –8
difference 49 subtract the two digits for check number can’t do 4

Checking Division
Cast nines from the dividend to get the “check number” (circled). Cast nines from the
quotient. Cast nines from the divisor. Cast nines from the remainder. Multiply the one-
digit results as is done normally in checking division: quotient times divisor plus
remainder. The result must equal the check number.
Cast 9’s from dividend, 89, for 8 , the check number.
quotient 14 r5 remainder quotient 14, 1 + 4 = 5 times divisor 6 = 30 (3 + 0 = 3)
divisor 6 ) 89 dividend plus remainder 5 = 8. This matches check number.