Calculate Much Faster: Learn Vedic Mathematics

Vedic Mathematics had its origin about 4000 years ago in India. In this tutorial we will learn the various sutras or principles, combinations of which can be used to perform even the most hectic calculations manually. However, here only the very basics will be covered so as to get started quickly.

Vedic maths extensively relies on calculation up to 5 only numbers above 5 are used practically as 10-1for 9, 10-2 for 8, 10 -3 for 7, 10-4 for 6. The basis for this is that calculations with 10s are very easy.

1.Subtraction using Vedic Maths

In Vedic maths we never subtract larger nos. We always add. To perform various functions we use complements. Eg .Complement of

2 is 10 -2=8; 18 is 100-18;

Shortcut:

to find complement of a no. we subtract all digits by 9 and last digit by 10.

Let's take a subtraction eg.

712 -678.

We find complement of 678 which is 322.

Now we add 322 and 712 to get the answer. This relies on fact that finding complement and adding is easier than one substation.

2 Addition

To perform addition nos. are represented relative to 5.

Eg. 7 becomes 2(7-5), 2 becomes -3(2-5) and so on.

Now we use the substituted nos. for addition.

Eg :

1 1 1(carry)

1 8 9 -4 3 4

+ becomes +

2 2 4-3 -3 -1

1-6 1 3

A carry is generated for every 2 no added. The no. we got is converted to its natural form by subtracting 2^nd digit from 1^st digitX10 . In this case the no is 10-6=4 and final answer is 413.

Shortcut :after performing addition if any digit is negative complement that digit and decrement the digit before it by 1.

3.Multiplication

For multiplication table above 5X5 is not required. Consider 8x7. 8=(10-2), 7=(10-3)

8 2

X I

7 3

5 6

In front of 8 and 7 is their complement respectively.

Multiply 2 and 3 to get 6.

Perform 8-3 or 7-2 to get 5.

Alternatively: 2x3=6 and 10-(2+3) =5

With carry it is calculated as below:

7 3

X I

6 4

3 2

1 ->(carry of 12)

4 2

4x3=12 gives 2 and 1 carry

7-4(or 6-3) gives 3.

Alternatively 10-(3+4) gives 3.

Lets try for more complex nos. say 88x98

88 12

X I

98 2

86 24 =8624.

4.Another way of multiplication

Consider 21x23

There are three steps as illustrated below

2 1

I X I

2 3

4 8 3

Muliply vertically on left to get 2x2=4

Multiply crosswire and add to get 2x3 + 2x1 =6

Multiply vertically on right to get 1x3=3

Consider another problem 61x31

6 1

I X I

3 1

18 9 1

· 6x3=18

· 6x1+3x1=9

· 1x1=1

Using just these basic ideas one can mentally do large calculations, which may seem formidable otherwise. Stay updated for more.