Complements to 100
Find the pairs of numbers that add up to one hundred.
Times Tables
A collection of activities to help you learn your times tables in only 5 days.
Fast Factors
Match the numbers with the answer to the times table. A timed activity to improve instant recall of key table facts.
Mental Strategies
Practise your mental arithmetic skills and learn some new strategies with this self marking exercise.
Number Crunch Saga
A lively numeracy game requiring you to align three numbers to create the given target sum or product.
23 or Bust
A game involving mental arithmetic and strategy for two players or one player against the computer.
Pairs Twenty One
Find the pairs of numbers that add up to 21 in this collection of matching games.
Pairs Eleven
Find pairs of playing cards of the same suit which add up to eleven.
Quotientmaster
A fast-paced activity to help you practise a Times Table by developing an ability to quickly recall quotients.
Division Master
How quickly can you answer times table questions presented the wrong way round?
Brainbox
A puzzle requiring the arrangement of numbers on the function machines to link the given input numbers to the correct output.
Sum to One
Find pairs of numbers that add up to one.
Chain Challenge
How fast can you perform all of the given operations without using a calculator?
Beat The Clock
It is a race against the clock to answer 30 mental arithmetic questions. There are nine levels to choose from.
Divides Exactly
Find which divisions result in whole number quotients. A mental arithmetic speed challenge.
Product of Primes
Match the primes that multiply to give the products. A drag and drop activity.
Convoluted
Find the runs of four multiples in order as quickly as you can.
Furthermore
A self-marking exercise on counting forwards or backwards in tens, hundreds, thousands etc.
Grid Arithmetic
Fill in a multiplication grid with the answers to simple multiplication and division questions.
Know Your Place
Without a calculator perform some calculations requiring a knowledge of place value.
Make 1000
Use the numbers on the strange calculator to make a total of 1000
Triside Totals
Arrange the digits 1 to 9 on the triangle so that the sum of the numbers along each side is equal to the given total.
Pick The Primes
Pick the prime fruit from the tree as quickly as possible. Practise to improve your personal best time.
Pairs 240
Find the pairs of numbers that multiply together to give a product of 240 in this collection of matching games.
Masad
For each pair of numbers subtract the sum from the product then divide the result by 20 without a calculator.
Mixpressions
Arrange the cards to create a valid mathematical statement.
Eleven In Your Head
Multiply numbers by eleven in your head.
Nine Nine Nine
Use the digits 1 to 9 to make three 3 digit numbers which add up to 999.
No Partner
Find which numbers in a given list do not combine with other numbers on the list to make a given sum.
Dump-A-Dice Race
An online board game for two players involving prime and square numbers and making choices.
Numbasics
A daily workout strengthening your ability to do the basic mathematical operations efficiently.
Number Skills Inventory
A checklist of basic numeracy techniques that every pupil should know.
Divisibility Test
Practise using the quick ways to spot whether a number is divisible by the digits two to nine.
Numskull
Interactive, randomly-generated, number-based logic puzzle designed to develop numeracy skills.
One Minute Maths
A challenge to mentally add numbers together without making the classic place value mistakes.
Latin Square Puzzles
Arrange the given digits to make a Latin square with the given row and column calculation results.
Powten
Practise multiplying and dividing by powers of ten without using a calculator.
Quick
Can you multiply a number by 1001 in your head? This exercise provides practice in this and other similar challenges.
Six Discrimination
The six button has dropped off! How could these calculations be done using this calculator?
Stamp Sticking
Drag stamps onto the envelopes to make the exact postage as shown at the top left of each envelope.
Bidmaze
Find your way through the maze encountering mathematical operations in the correct order to achieve the given total.
Sum Game
A game against the clock to find the numbers which add up to the target number.
Expedite
Drag the numbered cards to produce a multiplication fact. Complete twenty mixed times tables questions to earn a trophy.
TablesMaster
How fast can you answer times table questions? This activity provides feedback to help you improve.
Hard Times
The hardest multiplication facts (according to Transum research) are presented in the form of pairs games.
Digital Darts
An online darts game for one or two players requiring skill, strategy and mental arithmetic.
Triplets
Find as many sets of three of the available numbers as possible which add up to the given total.
Tug of War
A game for two players or teams testing their speedy reactions to mental arithmetic questions.
Perfect Magic Square
Arrange the sixteen numbers on the four by four grid so that groups of four numbers in a pattern add up to the same total.
Estimation Golf
Play a round of golf using your estimation skills rather than golf clubs.
Zygo
Interactive, randomly-generated, number-based logic puzzle designed to develop numeracy skills.
Three Ways
Find three different ways of multiplying four different digits together to get the given target number. There are nine levels for this online challenge.
Digivide
Arrange the numbers from 1 to 6 in the spaces to make the division calculation correct.
Times Tables in 10 minutes
Jill Mansergh uses a number stick to teach the 17 times table in less than ten minutes.
Nine Times Fingers
Learn your 9 times table fast using your fingers!
Maths Fact Fluency
A four-step process for taking pupils on the path from acquisition to automaticity
Memorise the Multiplication Table
A quick overview of methods for learning all one hundred multiplication facts from 1x1 to 10x10.
Mental Maths Tricks
This video lesson shows you tips on how to multiply faster than ever!
Can't Add Up!
This simple Maths problem often baffles even really smart people. Can you solve it?
Square Tricks
Math Tricks for Fast Calculation - How to square numbers between 10 and 20 without memorisation.
Visualise Percentages
If you can picture in your mind what a percentage looks like you may be better able to preform mental calculations.
Just In Time
Every 10 seconds a new calculation appears on the screen: A dynamic visual aid.
Flash Tables
A never ending sequence of times tables questions to be projected on to a whiteboard or screen.
Quick Percentages
Practise calculating simple percentages in your head with this animated visual aid.
Quickulations
A mental arithmetic visual aid that displays random calculations then after a few seconds displays the answers.
Playing Card Maths
Imagine you are on a desert island with nothing but a pack of playing cards. Do you have to stop learning mathematics?
Pesto
Students classify numbers randomly appearing on the screen by holding up cards
A Thousand and One
Develop a quick way of mentally multiplying any number by 1001.
Abundant Buses
A game based around the concept of factors and abundant numbers.
Add Quickulations
Calculations appear on the screen every few seconds. This mental arithmetic starter provides pace to the start of the Maths lesson.
Ancient Mysteries
This activity requires students to memorise fifteen numbers in a three by five grid.
Countdown
How close can you get to the target by making a calculation from the five numbers given?
Division Quickulations
Random division calculations appear on screen every few seconds.
Eleventh of the Eleventh
Practise multiplying and dividing by eleven in your head.
Family Buses
Fit families onto eleven seater buses without splitting up the families.
Flabbergasted
If each number in a sequence must be a factor or multiple of the previous number what is the longest sequence that can be made from the given numbers?
Four Factors
Find four single digit numbers that multiply together to give 120. How many different ways are there of answering this question?
Four to Seven
Which of the numbers from one to twenty can you make with the digits 4, 5, 6 and 7?
Fractions Decimals Percentages
Convert fractions to decimals, decimals to percentages and percentages to fractions.
Get A Wiggle On
A mixture of calculations to get your brain working at the start of a mathematics lesson.
Know Your Place
Without a calculator perform some calculations requiring a knowledge of place value.
Mental Maths Quiz
A traditional twenty question mental arithmetic test presented as a PowerPoint presentation.
Mult Sum Diff Div
For each pair of numbers multiply the sum by the difference then divide the answer by 5.
Multiply Quickulations
Random multiplications appear on screen every few seconds.
Multiply, Add, Subtract and Divide
For each pair of numbers subtract the sum from the product then divide the result by 20 without a calculator.
No Partner
Find which numbers in a given list do not combine with other numbers on the list to make a given sum.
Outnumbered
Which group of four numbers, arranged in a square, has the largest total?
PercenTable
Complete the table by calculating common percentages without using a calculator.
Positions Please
Stand at the point between the classroom walls to represent a given number.
Refreshing Revision
It is called Refreshing Revision because every time you refresh the page you get different revision questions.
Six Discrimination
An activity involving a calculator which is missing the six button. Can you evaluate the given expressions without using the six?
Spin the Wheel
Many basic numeracy questions generated from the number selected by the wheel of fortune.
Strange Tables
A challenge to learn an unfamiliar times table involving decimals.
Subtract Quickulations
Calculations appear on the screen every few seconds.
Suko
Interactive number-based logic puzzle similar to those featuring in The Times and Telegraph newspapers.
Sum Equals Product
What are the numbers if their sum equals their product?
Table Legs
Learn an unusual times table from the strategic finger moving up and down the 'Table Leg'!
Table Spiders
Multiply the number on the spider's back by the numbers next to its legs.
Take Sides
Put up your right hand or left hand depending on the expressions that appears.
Team Age
Work out who is in which team from the information given.
Three Wise Gifts
Find as many sets of three of the available numbers as possible which add up to the given total.
Timed Tables
How fast can you answer 24 mixed times tables questions?
Triple Totals
Complete the sums using only the given numbers then check your calculations are correct.
Triplets
Find as many sets of three of the available numbers as possible which add up to the given total.
Weather Report
Find five different integers that multiply together to give a product of twelve.
98 items are currently in this category.
Teachers might find the complete Mental Methods Topic List useful.
Though using pencil and paper are as useful as having up-to-date technology skills, there is no substitute for strategic mental methods for working out calculations and solving problems. The activities in this topic are designed to improve pupils' abilities to use their brains.
Calculating 'in your head' can be a difficult task. If you cannot remember what you have worked out or simply do not know how to solve a problem then it can be very challenging and frustrating. It is important to learn and practise mental arithmetic and using mathematical patterns, you can dramatically improve the speed and accuracy of your mental mathematics.
See also the Arithmetic topic and our Number Skills Inventory.
