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Speed Mathematics: Secrets Skills for Quick Calculation

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Using this book will improve your understanding of math and have you performing like a genius!

People who excel at mathematics use better strategies than the rest of us; they are not necessarily more intelligent.

Speed Mathematics teaches simple methods that will enable you to make lightning calculations in your head-including multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction, as well as working with fractions, squaring numbers, and extracting square and cube roots. Here's just one example of this revolutionary approach to basic

96 x 97 =
Subtract each number from 100.

96 x 97 =
4 3

Subtract diagonally. Either 96--3 or 97-- 4.
The result is the first part of the answer.

96 x 97 = 93
4 3

Multiply the numbers in the circles. 4 x 3 = 12.
This is the second part of the answer.

96 x 97 = 9312
4 3

It's that easy!

272 pages, Paperback

First published October 20, 2003

98 people are currently reading
409 people want to read

About the author

Bill Handley

12 books18 followers

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5 stars
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49 (33%)
3 stars
33 (22%)
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Profile Image for Liquidlasagna.
3,125 reviews113 followers
October 20, 2020
I would say that for 80% of purposes, the Trachtenberg system is superior

but there are certain useful facets in this book as well
adding and subtraction methods
and multiplication tables

88 reviews
January 1, 2022
در تلاش برای نوشتن یک کتاب.

مشکل خیلی از این کتابای ریاضیات سریع اینه که انقدر روش های مختلف و پراکنده ای رو میگن که توی ذهن نمی مونه و تلاش من هم الان همینه که یه کتابی بنویسم که این مشکل رو نداشته باشه!!!

گرچه خیلی از مطالبی که گفت هم مفید بود.
Profile Image for Irene.
8 reviews
June 15, 2011
call me a nerd but this was actually really interesting. It definitely introduced me to a number of clever techniques to approach basic mathematics that I never knew even existed. It was enlightening and quite worth the read especially the lessons on mental calculation which probably didn't stick too well in my head ... way too many numbers. But interesting nevertheless :)
Profile Image for Leer  Para Pensar.
106 reviews5 followers
April 21, 2026
Speed Mathematics de Bill Handley

Este libro me pareció una propuesta interesante y bastante útil para quienes desean mejorar su agilidad mental en el cálculo. Su principal fortaleza radica en el uso de aproximaciones: tomar números cercanos a referencias conocidas (como 50, 100, etc.) y, a partir de ahí, ajustar sumando o restando. Este enfoque lo vuelve ingenioso y, en muchos casos, más rápido que los métodos tradicionales.

Uno de los aspectos más destacables es cómo simplifica multiplicaciones cuando los números están cerca de valores “redondos”. En estos casos, el método se vuelve muy eficiente y elegante. También introduce técnicas como el método de cruces, que resulta práctico e interesante.

Sin embargo, aunque el libro está bien explicado, considero que su limitación está en apoyarse principalmente en un tipo de estrategia. Desde una visión más amplia, las matemáticas rápidas funcionan mejor como una caja de herramientas: no existe un único método universal, sino múltiples técnicas que se eligen según el problema. A veces necesitas un martillo, otras una llave específica; insistir en una sola herramienta puede no ser lo más óptimo en todos los casos.

En cuanto a otros temas, como la raíz cuadrada, personalmente encuentro más convincente el enfoque basado en ideas similares a las de Archimedes, que pueden ofrecer mayor claridad conceptual en ciertos contextos.

En resumen, es un libro valioso, especialmente para desarrollar intuición y rapidez en cálculos cercanos a patrones conocidos. Lo recomiendo ampliamente como una introducción a este mundo. No obstante, quien desee profundizar realmente en las matemáticas rápidas deberá explorar más fuentes, practicar constantemente y ampliar su repertorio de técnicas.

Porque, al final, el cálculo mental no es una fórmula única… es un arte que se construye con muchas herramientas.
Profile Image for addie.
51 reviews
June 29, 2020
Had to brush up on my math skills, can tell that it is definitely interesting and helpful! Loved it. Would definitely recommend this to a parent or a kid hahaha
Profile Image for Cindy.
11 reviews
January 11, 2011
Now that was interesting! Want to learn a new way to multiply large numbers in your head? This book will teach you if you have the will power to read this slowly and practice. I found it fun to learn, maybe you will too.
Profile Image for Rania  Saleh.
5 reviews
March 25, 2013
nice book, it give an easy shortcuts for many mathematical operations like multiple by 11, or square a number start with 5.
Profile Image for Jessica.
17 reviews
May 4, 2013
I don't like math
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Terry.
14 reviews2 followers
June 6, 2013
Great ! Wish I would have Hadith in grade school.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews