Today you can define mental math in various different ways. Some would say, memorizing times table and remembering the solutions can form the part of mental mathematics. Some would say ability to perform simple calculations in your head can be mental mathematics. The web dictionary defines mental mathematics as Computing an exact answer without using pencil and paper or other physical aids.
Today there are five methods available to learn and practice mental mathematics.
Lets begin with the first one called Learning by Heart or better known as the rote memorizing method where your teachers ask you to mug up boring multiplication tables. It not only kills the interest of the child in mathematics but also makes sure that he develops hatred towards the subject for the rest of the years he studies it. This system gives its ardent devotee some degree of success initially as he is able to answer easy problems but then when the supposedly bigger application problems come the steam is almost over.
The second one gives you a good degree of success and I would highly recommend it to the younger lot out there. It hails from China and is popular by the name of The...