— The Math Max blog —
Blog
Tips, tricks and slightly unhinged pep talks for getting better at mental math — and for turning math practice into something people actually look forward to.

November 2, 2026
Volume of a cylinder: the formula, examples and how to get litres
The volume of a cylinder is V = πr²h, the area of its circular base times its height, always measured in cubic units such as cm³.
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November 2, 2026
Standard deviation explained simply, with a step-by-step example
Standard deviation measures how spread out numbers are around their mean. A small value means they sit close together.
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November 2, 2026
Circumference of a circle: the formula, examples and why π appears
The circumference of a circle is the distance around its edge. You find it with C = πd, or C = 2πr if you know the radius.
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October 30, 2026
Area of a circle: the formula, examples and where πr² comes from
The area of a circle is the amount of flat space inside it, and you find it with the formula A = πr², where r is the radius.
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October 30, 2026
The Fibonacci sequence: what it is and where it shows up in nature
The Fibonacci sequence is a list where each number is the sum of the two before it. It starts 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13 and never ends.
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October 30, 2026
Roman numerals: how to read and write them, and why there is no zero
Roman numerals write numbers with seven letters, I, V, X, L, C, D and M, which stand for 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000.
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October 27, 2026
How to read a multiplication chart, and the patterns hidden in it
How to read a multiplication chart, the patterns hidden in it, and when your child can stop using it. Every row up to 12 × 12 included.
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October 11, 2026
Is 1 a prime number? What primes are and how to spot them fast
Is 1 a prime number? No. See the real reason, a fast way to test any number, and the numbers that look prime but aren't.
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May 6, 2026
Fun math games for adults to stay sharp
Mental math isn't just a kid thing. Here's why grown-ups should keep doing it — and how to make the practice something you'll actually keep up.
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