Math Magic: How To Master Everyday Math Problems

Amazing book!!

Since I was a child, I was always considered gifted at mathematics. While I was very good at primary, high-school and university mathematics, and faster than my peers in any kind of mathematics, I had never tried (or thought of trying) to be very fast (like Scott Flansburg) at adding up a long column of numbers or multiplying 47138 by 269273 in my head. So when Scott promised to "reveal his secrets" for performing calculations at lightning speed, I decided to buy his book. I figured that if I was so good at mathematics it would be easy to do "speed math" if only "the secrets were revealed".I regret to say that I have never been more disappointed in a book! While the book has some interesting and useful techniques for doing some specific calculations quickly (e.g. multiplying by 11 or squaring two-digit numbers that end in 5 or multiplying numbers in the 90s), it fails miserably at getting you to add up six two-digit numbers any faster than you could by doing it the normal way. Even after practising the so-called secrets, it still takes a while to multiply, say, 79 by 68, much less 47138 by 269273.For example, his "technique" for multiplying 79 by 68 quickly is to do the following: work out 7 times 6 and remember that is 4200; then cross-multiply 7 by 8 (56) and 9 by 6 (54) and add them to get 110; multiply 110 by 10 (1100) and add this to 4200 to get 5300. While remembering all this, multiply 9 by 8 (72) and add this to get the answer 5372.After all that, you are supposed to say, "Wow, Scott! That was easy." If you think that is easy, try doing it in your head. And with all the practice in the world, you will never get as fast as someone who can simply look at the numbers and tell you the answer.There are no "secrets" revealed in this book to get you to do arithmetic faster, either mentally or on paper. All of the techniques discussed can be easily found on the Net. While I am sure that Scott deserves his title "human calculator", you will never become anything remotely like him by reading and practising the methods in this book. Like most celebrities, he just decided to piggy-back on his reputation to sell a book.One more thing: less than half of the book is devoted to "techniques". The rest is "padding" with things like how to calculate tips and taxes, how to measure things like thea area of a piece of land, some information on military time, working with fractions (just like in elementary school) etc. There is an introduction to algebra but it is poorly presented; you will learn better from any school book on algebra.

I first saw Scott on a TV show where he was able to get the host to do this type of math very quickly. I was impressed. Math had not been my strong suit in school (some decades back!). I also had a very sorry ATTITUDE about math. I finally got the book, used it, and was amazed at the difference it made in both my ABILITY and my ATTITUDE. Since that time, I have regularly bought copies of this book to GIVE away to those who showed an interest and needed help. Knowledge should be SHARED and this is one super way to change how you do math, whether child or adult.

Earth-shattering. Eye-opening. Other positive attributes.Seriously, this book made me like math. Being a 30 year old self-confessed math idiot, I would have never believed it possible. I will be using the tools I learned from Scott's book to teach my own child and hopefully he'll never know that fear or loathing that I experienced throughout school with terrible teachers, backwards learning, and memorization that left the brain as soon as the test was done.

I really did not see how this would be easier to learn then what is currently being taught. Not much difference in having to remember a bunch of tricks for calculating, and the current math we know. I think this might confuse more people then it would actually help, but not everyone thinks alike as you will see with this book.

This book has some good tricks for fast math.

Curious to learn some new techniques on doing math.

Great Math book

Tried and tested methods . tested it and it just works. just know your Multiplication math table.

Good quality.

Purchased this book for my sisters kids but this book is good for anyone who want or needs to calculate quickly in their heads in their work or business. Remember Scott Flansburg from some TV program ages ago. You will be able to learn to calculate quicker than with a calculator in your head, just keep in mind practice makes a master : ) I should get a copy for myself also...

I would like to read it. I am assuming the content is good but the quality packaging is very poor. I looks used and it is damaged so I will be returning this back to Amazon.

I LOVE this Book, it’s Awesome.I am finding it extremely useful.I am slowly starting to rewire how I think about numbers.Scott, is sooo clever, thank you for sharing your wisdom.Scott is a game changer.