The four basic arithmetic operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division - are very common in everyday life. We might have to perform 10-50 such calculations mentally on every day of our lives, whether these happen at the grocery store, while calculating sports odds on TV, or when we calculate how much we owe our friends at a group dinner. Being able to do these mathematical calculations quickly in our minds is a huge plus, since we can both look smart and save money by reducing inaccuracies and errors in the arithmetic calculations that underpin our existence.
Making arithmetic calculations quickly is a useful skill, even in the age of smartphones with calculator apps at your fingertips.
Studies have shown that people who show comfort with numbers by solving simple arithmetic problems in real time in professional situations come across as more confident and capable - so developing this skill can give you a boost in your career, whether that happens to be in industry or in academia.
Getting better at mental mathematics calculations can also serve an important psychological function. If you are able to overcome any fear of calculations, and to get better at basic arithmetic, you will see that your overall discomfort with numbers in general, and with math in particular, evaporates, and this contributes to your overall sense of well-being and happiness.
You cannot wholly escape mathematics - whether it's in your daily job, in personal finance calculations, in daily life conversations, or in calculations of tips at restaurants. This book uses many techniques, tips, and tricks that are derived from Vedic mathematics and the Trachtenberg math system.
You will then be given many sets of problems, and will need to give yourself a time limit to complete each set. The time you take doesn't really matter, as long as you keep achieving your target time, and improve the time with every few sets.
You can either use a calculator to compute answers, or use the solutions given at the end of this book.
All the very best!