Max Maths, Year 6, Learn together, Mental methods for calculation with decimals (1)

In the Max Maths Year 6 curriculum, students are introduced to mental methods for calculating with decimals. The lesson begins with a reminder to recall adding and subtracting decimals mentally. The first example demonstrates how to add two numbers with one decimal place: 4.3 and 5.2. The process involves adding the tenths (0.3 + 0.2 = 0.5) and then the ones (4 + 5 = 9) separately, resulting in a sum of 9.5. Similarly, for subtraction, students are shown how to subtract the tenths (0.8 - 0.6 = 0.2) and then the ones (7 - 3 = 4) when calculating the difference between 7.8 and 3.6, which equals 4.2.

Moving on to calculations involving two decimal places, the same step-by-step strategy is applied. For example, to find the sum of 1.53 and 5.04, students first add the hundredths (0.03 + 0.04 = 0.07), followed by the tenths (0.5 + 0.0 = 0.5), and finally the ones (1 + 5 = 6). By breaking down the calculation into manageable parts, students arrive at the correct total of 6.57. This methodical approach helps to simplify the process of mental arithmetic with decimals, ensuring that students can confidently handle numbers with multiple decimal places.