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Mikael Eriksson![]() Inner circle None of your business 1064 Posts ![]() |
Does anyone know how to easily teach children the times tables? Like mnemonics for example.
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stanalger![]() Special user St. Louis, MO 998 Posts ![]() |
You might enjoy checking out Marmaduke Multiply's Merry Method of Making Minor Mathematicians,
but it's probably a bit too "old-fashioned" for today's kids. http://store.doverpublications.com/0486227731.html |
Scott Cram![]() Inner circle 2678 Posts ![]() |
I wouldn't use mnemonics to teach math. Instead of just memorizing the tables, here are some great methods that help get the answers quickly and easily, while helping the student understand the numerical relationships:
"Vertical And Crosswise" method of multiplying Multiply by 11-19 mentally (The above two methods compliment each other well. If a student were to practice these, he'd have the multiplication tables down in an afternoon or two.) Multiplication Grids Russian Peasant Multiplication 1 Russian Peasant Multiplication 2 |
Mikael Eriksson![]() Inner circle None of your business 1064 Posts ![]() |
Thanks for the replies.
I have to ask you though, Scott, don't you think it's easier when you know the times table by memory? So the question is how to memorise them the easiest way. |
stanalger![]() Special user St. Louis, MO 998 Posts ![]() |
Michael,
I think/hope Scott was joking. The "peasant multiplication" method is an interesting curiosity, but horribly inefficient. Remember the Trachtenberg system of "speed arithmetic"? "Multiply numbers without memorizing multiplication tables." Like this: http://people.bath.ac.uk/ma3jmf/project/ Give me a break! I love the final paragraph of this page: http://www.speed-math.com/index.php?page=content_story.inc This extract is from a book that was copyrighted in 1960. (The "revolution" never occurred. But the Trachtenberg touters are still selling product.) And we think magic ads are full of hype! Sheeeesh! (If anyone wants a hardcover copy of The Trachtenberg Speed System of Basic Mathematics, I'll sell my hardcover copy for $5 and I'll pay the shipping. PM me if interested.) Stan |
Scott Cram![]() Inner circle 2678 Posts ![]() |
The last few I included were just as other interesting ways of showing multiplication. As I mentioned in my previous post, the first two are the most effective.
Going back to Mikael's original question, in multiplication, it's not only the answer that needs to be understood, but the process, as well. If the answers are memorized, then the person memorizing the answers may not necessarily understand the process by which the answer was determined. Then, when other multiplication problems above and beyond the times tables come along, they're not as well equipped. |
stanalger![]() Special user St. Louis, MO 998 Posts ![]() |
Scott,
Look at the example of using "VERTICALLY AND CROSSWISE" to do 8 x 7. You need to think about the tens-complement of 8. You need to think about the tens-complement of 7. Then you have to think about either (i)subtracting 3 from 8 or (ii) subtracting 2 from 7. Finally you have to think about 2 x 3. A student should simply know that 8 x 7 = 56. No intermediate steps. The student who relies on the VERTICALLY AND CROSSWISE "method" would be the one ill-equipped to do multi-digit multiplication problems. A student need only memorize the tables up to 9 x 9 and understand the standard algorithm for multiplying multi-digit numbers. That student is then well-equipped to multiply ANY two numbers. |
MichelAsselin![]() Veteran user 20th century, 3rd dimension 326 Posts ![]() |
I think that Stan is right on the money. Just like you must learn the alphabet in order to really read, you must assimilate the basic table so that you know it cold.
" , ? ; !!! "
- Marcel Marceau, Feb 30, 1945. |
Mikael Eriksson![]() Inner circle None of your business 1064 Posts ![]() |
Quote:
On 2006-11-17 12:35, Scott Cram wrote: As far as I know, here in Sweden children are first thoroughly learnt the process behind multiplication, and then learnt the times tables as a shortcut. Shortcuts are very useful, and I want to be able to help children learn them easier and faster. |
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