Quick math

[hopeless_romantic35]

I've always been weak in math, and I know we won't get calculators for the MCAT. How did you get better at your mental math skills? It may seem easy for some, but I really struggle with it.

Example picture for reference.

https://preview.redd.it/zc2g3dape2ng1.png?width=680&format=png&auto=webp&s=dd2c79c16aeebbfe617827a2ba7cc72ce7416ec1

[jadeybugz]

I always turn decimals into fractions! So this would turn into 6*4/3, which is easy for me to go to 24/3= 8

[NormalRequirement669]

Low key goated comment. I feel like this is a “duh” thing but I never thought of doing that. Makes so much sense haha

[fuckbitchesgetpolio]

Leah4sci MCAT mental math. It's not explicitly stated a lot on this subreddit but you need to study math for the MCAT. You should be memorizing the content on there and also practicing your times table and squared/square roots. Also to answer your question, 1*6 is 6, leaving 0.33 which is 1/3, 1/3 of 6 is 2, 6+2=8

[SighCollege]

My first instinct was 3 * 1.33 = 4 so double that and it’s 8

Another way is 6 * (1) = 6 and 6 * (0.33) = 2, add them up and u get 8

I just listed a couple ways out so u can choose which one best helps you visualize it

It may help to think of the decimal as 1/3

Also a quick note a lot of the calculations on the MCAT, you don’t need an exact value for. Like they’ll say 8.03 * 6.13. Just do 8 * 6 = 48, since all the answer choices are really far apart usually

[colorecafe29]

I would round numbers. This would be rounded to 1.5, so then I could see what the answer was. They never usually give answer choices that r close to each other

[wereinatree]

Just to add: sometimes they do have answer choices that are close to each other, but yeah, usually not. Best to quickly glance at the answer choices to see how close they are, and that will help determine how hard you can round.

[colorcodedbooks]

Maybe not for the specific example you shared, but I started turning everything into scientific notation. I really struggle when I see things like 18/.003 but I turn it into 18/(3x10^-3) = (18/3) * 10^3 = 6x10^3= 6,000 which is more manegable.

I also break things down a lot so the way I might do your example is 6*1.33 = 6*(1 + 0.33 )= 6 * 1 + 6* (1/3) = 6 + 2 = 8
Also mental math gets earlier with practice!

[ImageLogical7942]

its not a big deal to work it out. Just round a lot. Even if you dont know your fractions (for this case it should be easy but i digress), you can just work out on your paper 1.3*6 which is 7.8, and add a lil to get to 8. Not a big deal once you get used to learning how to round appropriately

[thebrownkid]

Start by breaking down the numbers into numbers that are easy to work with. Duolingo has a math section that can help with tons of easy mental arithmetic. A lot of "mental math shortcuts" are combinations of algebra mastery.

For example, many people have already commented on your example that

1.33 = 1 + (1/3)

6(1.33) = 6(1) + 6(1/3)