Maths? You any good at it?

[cee-dee]

Maths. Hate maths? Good at maths? Can't make top nor tail of maths?

When I was at school (yep, I went to school!) we had a nutty maths teacher who just lived for maths. The thing is, some of the things he taught I've never forgotton so I wonder what he would have made of the Common Core methods?

I was browsing the BBC website and saw this report:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-35788369

Which led on to this video :- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSVTzQlqbp0

Now then, who the heck thought of doing things that way? How on earth can you visualise doing that mentally?

I think anyone contemplating changing anything should only promote changes which are simpler not more complicated. I wonder how many kids minds just went blank when they were trying to get to grips with that lot?

Next thing is they'll be trying to get kids to understand the significance of the numbers on a roulette wheel adding up to 666.

[al**bear]

I have had 3 massive battles with 3 sets of Arithmetic teachers, over my 3 Daughters counting

They were all taught - what the method was at that time - all different btw

My kids were lost, so each time I showed them how to Add, divide & multiply

The way I count, - the Old Fogeys way

I was useless at my times tables, why bother learning 'by rote' all these multiplications, when a few well remembered ones, let you work out the others

I showed them how to do long division the Old way as well

I taught them to change the sum or the figures to the easiest way for them to get the answer.

All the above while constantly fighting the teachers and headmasters over, not doing it the schools way

They all scored well, especially the Youngest who got 98% in a 6th year studies exam, while She was in 3rd year.

My eldest has since ran a large store in town, including doing all the Books

My middle Daughter has worked with figures all her working life and now manages a large transport companies office, including wages, Taxes, bonuses and billing

The Maths genius, took up Corporate law, so doesn't really use her skills

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Common Core Maths (& CC English) in the US, seem more aimed at getting standardised answers, hence cheaper Marking in set Exams for the US education system, than actually helping Kids with the numericy skills they need in Life.

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As Billy Connolly said to His teacher - when asked 2b x 3c = ?  

  "but Sir we haven't learned the b times table yet

[cee-dee]

I've been taken to task by a poster on here over using analogies before but doing things that stupid way is like saying the way to London from Birmingham is via Manchester and Leeds. Yes, you can get that way but it takes far longer. "It's not logical Jim".......

The simplest = the easiest, the easiest = quicker therefore easiest = the best way?

Oh, and well done you and well done those girls.

[evoman3957]

http://www.trachtenbergsystem.org/

[cee-dee]

I think that's another way of getting to London from Birmingham via Manchester and Leeds. (Mind you, I think that takes a detour via Scotland.)

[fallen-archie]

Loved Maths but did not find algebra as straight forward for ages. Maths for me was just a question of digits and sequences, a good memory helps.

i notice these days many drop the S and simply say "do the math" is that right?

[cee-dee]

I wouldn't say so. I'd say it was another modern, incorrect abbreviation which has gained common usage.

[******lynda******]

You and me both, Al. Official Methods were appalling.

Do the math....American term isn't it?

[evoman3957]

Sines, Cosines & Tangents........along with the relevant tables, seem to have faded into obscurity.

[cee-dee]

Next it'll be logs! Nooooooo, not him, logarithms.

[evoman3957]

Compound Fractions.....................something most people think you get, when you fall off your Bike.

[fallen-archie]

Anyone fancy a dabble at these?

[cee-dee]

No, reminds me of trying to work out the moves in "Go".

[fallen-archie]

That's the second time today I have heard that game mentioned, I have never tried it although I am familiar with the basics, sounds far too deep though.

[cee-dee]

It sure looks odd having as many stones as you like? Usually ghames have a finite number of pieces? Oh yes, as well as that, it looks odd having to put your stones on the lines instead if in the squares?

[evoman3957]

I think they should play it with M&M's, then everytime you don't like a move........you could just eat the piece.

[mustard-tree]

A clear case of over egging the pudding

[mustard-tree]

I would certainly have a dabble, but what are the questions.

[jd.linklater]

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@fallen-archie wrote:

Anyone fancy a dabble at these?

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I would if I knew what they were

[fallen-archie]

Perhaps better to start with something a little more straightforward, The announcement today of an Abel award for Sir Andrew Wiles who has solved Fermets theorem.

Theorem seemingly intractable

Fermat’s Last Theorem, first formulated by Pierre de Fermat (1601-1665), had been regarded by most mathematicians as seemingly intractable.

The Theorem states:

There are no whole number solutions to the equation
Xn + Yn = Zn
when n is greater than 2