Pick a difficulty and hit start, and a 60-second timer begins. Calculate each problem quickly, enter your answer, and hit enter. Get a streak going and your combo score climbs!
Can you say "12!" the instant you're asked what 7+5 is, without counting on your fingers? Having the answer pop into your head instantly, without working through each calculation step, is called automaticity. Speed Math Challenge is a game for building that automatic calculation sense, by solving problem after problem for 60 seconds straight.
Why does practicing fast calculation matter? If you have to slowly work out every simple calculation that comes up in the middle of a hard problem, you won't have enough mental energy left to think about the heart of the problem itself. When simple calculations pop out automatically, that frees up room to focus on the hard parts. Answer problems correctly in a row and your combo builds up for bonus points, but miss even one and the combo resets to 0. Calculating accurately, then answering quickly, is the secret to a high score.