Long division problems are a nightmare for everyone- children (who have to solve them), teachers (who have to demonstrate solutions to such problems), and finally parents (who have to help their children with homework).
Most teachers prefer using the long division approach to solving complex division questions. However, there are certain shortcuts that can at least help check the answers to a division problem, thus solving a lot of time and efforts, and hence leaving little or no room for errors.
Ask a middle grade child in a US school to solve a division problem and the first thing you would notice him/her taking out is the calculator. I am not against the use of calculators. I agree that these devices save us a lot of time. But one must also understand that too much dependence on calculators from an early age can deprive children from learning metal skills of calculations.
Mental Math is the key to making math simple for kids as well as adults. What if I say that with a little practice a middle grade child can solve a problem like 117852/138 in less than 30 seconds? Now for those who cannot do without a calculator, let me clarify that most calculators will NOT display the answer (of the aforementioned question) with a remainder.
Mental Math does not just help kinds in solving text book problems; it would also help them figure out various bills, account sheets, and taxes when they grow up. Mental Math is not only for kids. Parents and teachers should also start learning, and applying its techniques in order to simplify math, and help children develop interest in math.
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