In school, you are trained to solve math problems on paper, at a desk. The problem with that is, for most people, math problems don’t usually come with a desk or a pencil. They pop up in the checkout line when paying for groceries, figuring out your gas mileage at the pump, or when counting calories at a restaurant. Learning how to solve math problems in your head is an essential everyday life skill, especially if you don’t want to be ripped off in money transactions.