2nd Step to Becoming Human Calculator (Multiplication)

Hi folks…. Hope you are guys and gals are number healthy. In this post we will be looking into fun and easy way to multiply. We will start of with 2 digits multiplication today and move on to 3 digits in later post.  At the end of this, you should be able to say how easy this could be and with a little practice you will be on track to be the next ‘HUMAN CALCULATOR’.

Let’s look into the problem stated below. What would be our usually method of approaching this problem? Well they way it was thought in school were multiply 3x4 which results in 12. Write 2 in the one’s column and bring 1 to the ten’s column.  Next multiply the 1x4 and add the 1 (which was carried forward earlier). This gives us a total value of 5. Then we repeat the same problem for 2. We multiply 2x3 which is equal to 6 and place it as shown below and next we multiply 1x2. And the final result will be 312.

                 13                      13                        13                 

            x    24              x      24                 x     24 

                 52                      52                        52

                                         26                        26

                                                                    312  

Well, this conventional method is not wrong. It is just not user friendly when we want to do mental arithmetic. For us to become human calculator we need to think of a simplified solution to multiply. Scott has shown a simplified version to this. We still approach this from right to left (unlike addition).

Multiply 3x4 (=12). Write the 2 in the one’s column and carry forward the 1. Next cross multiply (1x4) + (2x3). This will sum up to be 10. Add the 1 that was carried forward earlier and the sum now becomes 11. Thus write the 1 as shown below and carry forward the 1 similar as earlier to the tens column. Finally, just multiply 1x2 and add the carry forward value earlier. Thus, this will be 2 + 1 = 3. In which it gives us the final answer 312. Now with a little practice (similar like previous), you will be able to master this technique and could perform and 2 digits multiplications mentally without hassle.

               ¹13                    ¹13                      ¹13                 

            x   24              x      24                 x     24 

                   2                     12                      312

Below are some questions for you to play with…

                 16                      24                        63                 

            x   24              x       42                 x     21 

                 84                      42                        85                 

            x   93              x       21                 x     27 

Till we meet again in our next post, have fun and be number healthy folks….

1st Step to Becoming a Human Calculator (Addition)

Hi folks…. Hope you guys and gals are number healthy. Today we will be looking into a new way of performing addition. I have to say this, that this method is not originated from me. In line to make Maths fun and easy to understand for all, I had done some research.  Result : Scott Flansburg appeared to be the top of the list. Then I started to read and learn what makes Scott’s way of addition so different from the one they teach in school. (At least the way they thought me in school)

Well, one obvious difference was Scott teaches us Maths the way our mind actually perceives the problem. Have you seen the ‘Mind Map’ concept made famous by Tony Buzan? What Mr. Buzan actually did in his concept was to teach a method of understanding and remembering the way our mind actually remembers things. Meaning, you do not force it down to your brain but instead naturally allows it to flow into it.

This makes a lot of sense to me. Well, the 1^st lesson in engineering school that was thought to me by my professor was ‘Do not design anything against nature. Nature is there to guide and help us. Make alliance with nature in every single design. GO AGAINST NATURE AND YOU ARE KNOCKING ON DOOMS DOOR’. I believe this is what both Mr. Buzan & Mr. Flansburg are trying to do in their teachings.

Let’s take an example to illustrate what I say a little clearer. Assuming you are given the problem below. Normally we are thought in our school to approach the numbers given from right to left. That means, add the numbers (5 + 4 + 1 + 6) = 16. This means 1 will be carried over to the tens column and 6 remains in the one’s column. Next we will be adding the tens column which adds up to 8. Finally, we will be adding the hundreds column which gives us the value 6. Then we read everything from left to right and we obtain 686.

Example 1

                 225                    225                     225                   225    

                 124                    124                     124                   124

                 221                    221                     221                   221

            +   116              +    116                 + 116               +  116

                                               6                       86                   686   

Now some might say that this is not so hard. Maybe true but can you duplicate this to compute faster mentally for larger numbers? Now this might make us wander.

Let’s approach this the ‘Scott Flansburg’ style. Scott tells us not to compute from right to left. But instead compute from left to right, the same way we utter the final answer and the way our brain really imagine the number. We start of with adding the hundreds column. We know that it adds up to 6. Next we look to the tens column and at a glance we realize that the tens column adds to be less than 10. Thus the value for hundreds column remains as 6.This indicates that the answer should be in the range of 600++. If the tens column adds up to be more than 10 then we should add 1 to the 6 earlier. Next look to the tens column, the value adds up to be 7, but values at the single digit produces a sum more than 10. Thus we add 1 to the 7 earlier to produce 8. This gives us a total of 680 ++ now.  Finally looking at the one’s column, we have a total value of 16. In which, the 1 has been carried forward earlier. Thus the final result will be 686 as illustrated in the diagram below.

                 225                    225                     225                   225    

                 124                    124                     124                   124

                 221                    221                     221                   221

            +   116              +    116                 + 116               +  116

                 6                         67                      68                     686   

Now, isn’t that faster? You could immediately start telling the answer out loud as you are calculating the similar method as you are pronouncing it. This is very much easier compared to computing from right to left, remembering the all the numbers and telling it out aloud finally from left to right. It becomes even more difficult if the numbers become bigger.

And finally, nothing is perfected without practice. Practice, practice and more practice makes it simple,fun and easy. Try the numbers below and have fun with addition today. As you become more and more familiar to this technique, you’ll be surprised that you are actually calculating faster than the calculator. Trust me it happens.

                 345                        615                         225                        225    

                 116                        142                         124                        124

                 214                        515                         221                        221

            +   123              +       113                 +      116               +       116

                 516                        845                         789                         368    

                 237                        432                         456                         412

                 132                        136                         123                         618

            +   175              +       246                 +      246               +        231

Have fun and be number healthy folks…..

Is Maths Really Difficult ???.

I have heard people saying this since I was young lad. I hate Maths!!!   I just don’t like numbers!!!   Numbers give me nightmare!!!

Back then I felt estranged but proud, because I don’t feel the same. I seemed to enjoy Maths more than all the other subjects that were thought in school. I had no idea why I liked it, but Maths was fun. Why was it fun??? No idea but it was just plain fun. Messing with numbers and finally you get to the final answer (I normally call it the destination). I guess it was like solving a mystery rather than just uploading some stuff into your brain. Anyway....

Now after 20 over years past… maturity has shown a different view to the question. I start to wonder now why people don’t like Maths. What make numbers that scary? Why do I like it then? If and only if they see numbers from my perspective, can they have a difference perception?

My parents usually say if you want to start something son, start it young because once you have learn something the wrong way, it is much difficult and energy consuming to RELEARN the same thing in a whole new way. I guess that is very true. I see that in my niece. My brother enrolled her to ‘Global Maths’ at the tender age of 5. She is 6 now and she can do multiplications. I now I can’t even do addition when I was 6. Well the point that I am trying to make here is if you teach kids the way they enjoy learning it, any topics or subjects will be easy.

If one could instigate the interest for Maths at this tender age, then I would confidently say that this LOVE will be ETERNAL. So for those who have kids, start them young with numbers. Let them feel that numbers are part of their live. After all they are going to use it in their daily life. You calculate at shopping mall, you calculate when you pay your bills, you calculate when you do monthly budgeting, you calculate when you see the stock market report and the list goes on and on and on....

In my subsequent post, I will be giving some fun and easy tips on addition. How you can use that to teach your kids from young and start programming them the correct way of performing mathematical functions. Till then stay number healthy folks….