10 Simple Maths Tricks & Shortcuts
1. Square Root
Finding the square root of a number by estimating and multiplying can be a long procedure. Given
below is a simpler method to find the square root of a number:
Example:Find the square root of 2116
To find the square root of 2116:
Step 1: See the digit in one’s place. In this case, it is 6. Now, check between 1-9, the square of what
all numbers have “6” at one’s place. The answer is 42 = 16 and 62 = 36.
Step 2: Now, check the square of which number between 1 to 9 is closest to the first two digits of the
given number. In this case, the sum of the number between 1 to 9 is closest to 21. The answer is 42 =
16 and 52 = 25.
So, one number among 44, 46, 54 and 56 is the square root of 2116.
Step 3: For the two numbers you got in step 2, multiply each of them with the next number in the
number series. That is, 4×5 = 20 and 5×6 = 30. Since 20 is a closer number to 21, the answer has to
be either 46 or 44. Multiply and check your answer.
Check yourself with the below-mentioned example:
Example: What is the square root of 1024?
, Solution:
Step 1: 22 = 4 and 82 = 64
Step 2: 32 = 9
Step 3: 3×4 = 12. Since 12 is greater than 10, the square root will be 32.
2. Cube Root
Follow the steps given below to find out the cube root of a number quickly.
Example: What is the cube root of 9261?
Step 1: Find the numbers between 1 to 9 whose cube is equal to the digit present at the one’s place;
here, it is 1. So, we get 1×1×1 = 1.
Step 2: See the first digit of the number, in this case, 9. 9 lies between the cube of 2 (2×2×2 = 8) and
(3×3×3 = 27). Since 8 is closest to 9, the cube root of 9261 is 21.
Note: To find the cube root of 5 digit number, use the first two digits instead of the first digit in
step 2
Try one example by yourself to understand the trick even better:
Example: What is the cube root of 32768?
Step 1: 23 = 8
1. Square Root
Finding the square root of a number by estimating and multiplying can be a long procedure. Given
below is a simpler method to find the square root of a number:
Example:Find the square root of 2116
To find the square root of 2116:
Step 1: See the digit in one’s place. In this case, it is 6. Now, check between 1-9, the square of what
all numbers have “6” at one’s place. The answer is 42 = 16 and 62 = 36.
Step 2: Now, check the square of which number between 1 to 9 is closest to the first two digits of the
given number. In this case, the sum of the number between 1 to 9 is closest to 21. The answer is 42 =
16 and 52 = 25.
So, one number among 44, 46, 54 and 56 is the square root of 2116.
Step 3: For the two numbers you got in step 2, multiply each of them with the next number in the
number series. That is, 4×5 = 20 and 5×6 = 30. Since 20 is a closer number to 21, the answer has to
be either 46 or 44. Multiply and check your answer.
Check yourself with the below-mentioned example:
Example: What is the square root of 1024?
, Solution:
Step 1: 22 = 4 and 82 = 64
Step 2: 32 = 9
Step 3: 3×4 = 12. Since 12 is greater than 10, the square root will be 32.
2. Cube Root
Follow the steps given below to find out the cube root of a number quickly.
Example: What is the cube root of 9261?
Step 1: Find the numbers between 1 to 9 whose cube is equal to the digit present at the one’s place;
here, it is 1. So, we get 1×1×1 = 1.
Step 2: See the first digit of the number, in this case, 9. 9 lies between the cube of 2 (2×2×2 = 8) and
(3×3×3 = 27). Since 8 is closest to 9, the cube root of 9261 is 21.
Note: To find the cube root of 5 digit number, use the first two digits instead of the first digit in
step 2
Try one example by yourself to understand the trick even better:
Example: What is the cube root of 32768?
Step 1: 23 = 8
