Math is Fast #2
How many of these can you solve quickly (and without using pen and paper) A teacher gave her students 3 pieces of rambutan each and had 18 left. If she wants to give her students 5 each she would need…
VMO I-2 Multiplying larger numbers near a base
Nikhilam or base multiplication works well even with large numbers when they are near the base. In our example, we can readily see the multiplicands 678 and 998 are composed of large digits and therefore more difficult to compute using…
VMO J-3: Squaring numbers near 50.
Numbers near 50 can also be squared easily. This time, however, we add the excess or subtract the deficiency from 25 and not from the number. The second part is still equal to the square of the excess or deficiency.…
VMO P-3 Nikhilam (Base) Multiplication: One number above and one number below the base.
We have seen how simple Nikhilam multiplication can be when applied to numbers above a base and numbers below a base. Now we can see that the same principles can be used in multiplication where one number is above and…
VMO J-2 Squaring numbers below a base.
Squaring a number below a base is difficult using the conventional methods because usually, large digits are involved but a Vedic Math sub-Sutra or word formula which states that “whatever the deficiency, lessen by that amount and set-up the square…
VMO P-2 Nikhilam (Base) Multiplication: Numbers below the base
When multiplying numbers below a power of 10, we subtract one number’s deficiency from the base from the other number and then get the product of the deficiencies. Similar to base multiplication of numbers above the base, the second part…
VMO J-1 Squaring numbers above a base.
One special application of base multiplication is squaring numbers near a power of 10. To square a number just above a power of 10, we apply the Vedic word formula, “Whatever the excess, increase by that amount and set-up the…
VMO P-1 Nikhilam (base) Multiplication: Numbers above the base
Our first Vedic Mathematics Olympiad (VMO) tip for the primary level is about NIkhilam or base Multiplication, a fun fast and easy way to do multiplication of numbers close to bases. In VM powers of 10 are often used as…
Expressing a number as a difference of two squares
Any whole number can be expressed as a product of two whole numbers. If the number is prime, it can be expressed as a product of itself and 1. The algebraic formula a2 – b2 = (a + b)(a –…
AN INTERESTING APPLICATION OF THE SUTRAS “THE FIRST BY THE FIRST AND THE LAST BY THE LAST” AND “THE PRODUCT OF THE SUMS IS THE SUM OF THE PRODUCT”
While studying Pythagorean Triples, I came across an article about two consecutive odd (or even) numbers being the basis for the lengths of the sides of right triangles. The sum of these numbers would be one of the legs of…