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Do the Math

Brush up on old skills or learn new ones!

By

Staying Sharp

Updated April 21, 2023

Updated April 21, 2023

A hand with a lit lightbulb floating above it with a blackboard of math equations

ThomasVogel/iStock

Quick Win

Practice the basics or challenge yourself with advanced problems. Sharpening math skills can engage the brain — and it’s fun!

Try This Today

Run some drills. Flash cards aren’t just for kids! Look for a printable set online to brush up on math facts.
Problem-solve. Start with single-digit addition, subtraction, multiplication or division and then try multiple-digit problems. Too easy? Look online for algebra, geometry or calculus problems.
Check your work with a calculator. Answers don’t match? Use paper and pencil to see where you went wrong.

Why

Has it been a minute since you’ve reviewed your times tables or done some long division? Whether you think of yourself as a “math person” or not, number-crunching can be fun and mentally engaging. Besides dusting off old math skills, you can build new ones — and that process may benefit your brain. “Cognitively stimulating activities,” those that engage and challenge your thinking skills, may help you maintain your cognitive abilities as you age, according to a 2017 report from the Global Council on Brain Health, “Engage Your Brain.” Keep exploring math if you enjoy it and remember, there’s no teacher grading you!

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Legal Disclaimer: Staying Sharp, including all content and features, is offered for informational purposes and to educate users on brain health care and medical issues that may affect their daily lives. Staying Sharp is based on a holistic, lifestyle approach to brain health that encourages users to incorporate into their daily lives activities that are associated with general wellness. Nothing in the service should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Features including the Cognitive Assessment and Lifestyle Check-Ins, Additional Tests, exercises, and challenges assess performance at a particular moment in time on certain discrete cognitive tasks. Staying Sharp games are intended for entertainment and recreational purposes only. Various factors may affect performance, including sleep, tiredness, focus, and other social, environmental, or emotional factors. Performance is not indicative of cognitive health and not predictive of future performance or medical conditions.

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