New blog post! "Mental Math Monday" summarizing last week's question and many different calculation strategies.
#MTBoS #iTeachMath #T3Learns #MathChat #MentalMathMonday #MathStratChat #ElemMathChat #MathSky #MathsToday #ClassroomMath

Thanks to Howie Hua!!!

https://karendcampe.wordpress.com/2025/04/07/mental-math-monday/

Mental Math Monday

Last week, I was the guest questioner for Howie Hua’s Mental Math Monday prompt that he posts on his social media accounts1. I asked, “How would you calculate 15 x 22?” and plenty of folks shared t…

Reflections and Tangents
A fun podcast I found today. Math is figureoutable
https://www.mathisfigureoutable.com/
Every Wednesday they share a mental math prompt .
Here is my solution for 16x75
#mathstratchat
Fell free to share in Twitter or Instagram if you like. I no longer go there
Math is FigureOutAble Home

And on TW, Susan Russo used difference of two squares, which I hadn't thought of.
Cool!
https://twitter.com/Dsrussosusan/status/1628146466098188289?s=20

#MTBoS #iTeachMath #TryMathLive #MathEd #MathStratChat

s_m_c_r_uss_o on Twitter

“@KarenCampe I went Difference of Two Squares here: (90 - 7)(90 + 7) 8100 - 49 8051”

Twitter

I am happy with those 3 versions of mentally computing 83 x 97.

Please share your #ProblemSolving strategies here or on the post https://karendcampe.wordpress.com/2023/02/04/february-calendar-problems/

More #MathStratChat on Wednesdays from @pwharris
& mental math Mondays from @howie_hua

#MTBoS #iTeachMath #TryMathLive

February Calendar Problems

Reflections and Tangents

Here's another multiplication using the area model to show double distribution.
Same four partial products as above:
80•90 + 80•7 + 90•3 + 7•3
Total = 8051

#MathStratChat #TryMathLive #MTBoS #iTeachMath #ProblemSolving #MathEd

How about decompose with a target number?

83 • 97
83•(100 – 3)
83•100 – 83•3
8300 – 249 [bc 80•3 + 3•3]
8300 – (250 – 1)
8300 – 250 + 1
8050 + 1 = 8051

#MathStratChat #TryMathLive #MTBoS #iTeachMath #ProblemSolving

Notice that I didn't say "FOIL" above... I chose to say repeated distribution since that more generally describes the math I am doing.
#WordsMatter

How else might I do this problem?

Double & halve isn't a great strategy because neither number is even.
#MathStratChat

Here is problem 1.
Reminder that for #TryMathLive I am sharing my thinking process... no need to jump in with suggestions (altho your own #ProblemSolving always welcome at the end of the thread).

#MTBoS #iTeachMath #MathStratChat
Explain how to multiply 83 x 97 using mental arithmetic.

83 x 97
My first thought is decompose & distribute:

(80 + 3)•(90 + 7)
80•90 + 3•90 + 80•7 + 3•7
7200 + 270 + 560 + 21

Now combine by place value:
7200 + 200 + 500 = 7900
70 + 60 + 21 = 151

Total = 8051

#MathStratChat #TryMathLive #MTBoS #iTeachMath #MathEd

Reminder that I posted a February Calendar of Problems from an old nctm journal. Please share w/your students or try #ProblemSolving yourself!

https://karendcampe.wordpress.com/2023/02/04/february-calendar-problems/

In this thread, I will #TryMathLive with one of the problems!
#MTBoS #iTeachMath #MathStratChat #MathEd

February Calendar Problems

Reflections and Tangents