First of all, let us figure out what exactly is mental math. Today if you search the phrase “mental math” you will probably end up with millions of options. Not exactly that makes your life easy; instead it builds up and strengthens your curiosity. Put in simplest terms, mental math can be defined as calculations performed in your head – mentally – without help of any external device be it as simple as pen and paper or any modern day device such as calculator, computer or any other electronic gadget.
We humans perform mental mathematical calculations everyday, consciously and unconsciously. When you are driving you figure out when to apply brakes to bring the vehicle to stop before hitting something. You figure out time difference between east coast and west coast. But where we falter is at the simplest and most mundane of calculations. Go to a restaurant and figure out 18% gratuity.
Abacus Mental Mathematics
What is abacus mental mathematics? Origin of Abacus is highly disputed today, some say it originated in Mesopotamia and some claim to be in China. Over centuries, abacus has evolved in to various different forms and sizes. The most commonly used is the Japanese Soroban Abacus.
The Soroban Abacus consists of one upper row and four lower rows and columns vary from thirteen, fifteen, seventeen or twenty one. It is claimed and proven by many researchers in Asia that Abacus stimulates whole brain development. When children use both hands to move the abacus beads to perform arithmetic calculations, there is quick communication between the hands and the brain that stimulates both the right and left hemispheres of the brain. This promotes rapid, balanced whole brain development.
If a child starts learning the abacus before being taught traditional arithmetic, there is minimal conflict and the child will easily work within both systems. If a child starts the program later, having already received traditional foundations, there may be a slightly extended learning period for the child to accept and integrate the abacus method.
Vedic Mental Mathematics
What is Vedic mental mathematics? Origin of Vedic Mathematics is in Atharva Veda (Holy Scripture from Hinduism). Vedic mathematics is a system based on sixteen sutras (aphorisms) which are actually word-formulae describing natural ways of solving a whole range of mathematical problems. These formulae describe the way the mind naturally works and are therefore a great help in directing the student to the appropriate method of solution.
It is claimed and proven by many researchers in Asia that practice and use of Vedic mathematics helps the person in many different aspects of decision making. From intelligent guessing to thinking outside the box ability. Vedic mathematics has its applications to much advanced mathematics, such as calculus and linear algebra. The sixteen sutras are: By one more than the one before, All from 9 and the last from 10, Vertically and crosswise, Transpose and apply, If the Samuccaya is the same it is zero, If one is in ratio the other is zero, By addition and by subtraction, By the completion or non-completion, Differential calculus, By the deficiency, Specific and general, The remainders by the last digit, The ultimate and twice the penultimate, By one less than the one before, The product of the sum, and All the multipliers
Today, both these methods have made a come back in Asia. Abacus Mental Math method is extremely popular in nations of China, Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia, Korea and India whereas Vedic Mental Math method is extremely popular only in India.
By: Shilpa Rao
Posts Tagged ‘Mathematical Calculations’
Mental Math Methods From Asia
March 20th, 2010Learn Math Bingo Games
October 30th, 2009Mathematics is that academic discipline that holds the most valuable place in our day to day lives be it organizing business or tax accounts or the mundane actives like managing the household finances. In a nutshell, teachers and parents are well aware of the value of mathematics in their child’s life. But to make the kids practice the same concepts of math again and again becomes a little taxing at times.
Thanks to math Bingo games, teaching math is no longer the difficult challenge it once used to be. There is an assorted range of math Bingo games on the Internet that covers all the concepts of this subject. The moment you key in the words ‘math Bingo games’ in any search engine, numerous Bingo sites will pop up offering math bingo games and facility to download it free without or with sign up.
Math Bingo games are very easy to play. Just click on any mathematical concept that you want to Bingo with. For instance, multiplication, addition, subtraction and division. You can also select math Bingo games according to the level of schooling of your child namely, kindergarten, first grade, second grade and so on.
Math Bingo games use regular cards for game play. But, instead of the random numbers on the card, there are numbers that are the result of various mathematical calculations. Let’s look at the Match Bingo game that shows a multiplication formula of 5X5=X. Your kid needs to calculate the value of ‘X’ and locate it on the card.
Teachers and parents can also create the cards for math Bingo games through the bingo card generator online and distribute them among the students in the classroom, at the tutorials or at home. Isn’t this an excellent ‘play and learn’ method to teach kids the basics of mathematics?
By: Jeffrey Mcmahon
Weak Cognitive Skills Are Cause of Learning Disabilities
September 7th, 2009Learning Disabilities affect people in all walks of life each and every day. These disorders can include dyslexia (impairment of ability to recognize and comprehend written words), dyscalculia (impairment of ability to solve mathematics problems), dysgraphia (inability to write), dyspraxia (motor skill coordination problems), and auditory and visual process disorders (difficulty understanding language or images). A learning disability is most simply defined as a neurological disorder.
The definition used by the U.S government for purposes of legislation and qualifying students for special education funds is the following:
“Specific learning disability” means a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, which may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or to do mathematical calculations. The term includes such conditions as perceptual handicaps, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia. The term does not include children who have learning problems which are primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor handicaps, of mental retardation, of emotional disturbance, or of environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage.
A learning disability is most widely caused by weak underlying cognitive skills. Other factors contributing to learning disabilities include basic genetic limits or poor and inadequate instruction. Weak cognitive skills can impact learning heavily because during the process of reading and understanding there are many processes going on. If one of those processes is weak it could throw off the whole learning process for an individual. When reading a student must process visual images which consist of letters and words, and at the same time they must recall and associate those images with correct sounds. Mental associations must be formed by those sounds to make the words they are associated with, and one has to comprehend what the word means and how it applies to what they are reading. It is easy to see how a weak cognitive skill can throw off the whole learning curve.
The good news about learning disabilities affected by weak cognitive skills is that they can be changed for the better by specific testing and training. These changes can be rapid and dramatic for those that struggle with the various learning disabilities. Cognitive skills testing is available all across the nation. A quality learning center that runs cognitive skills testing will uncover specific cognitive skill weaknesses and will customize training to strengthen those weaknesses. Getting you or your child tested for a learning disability can completely and literally change lives.
According to the National Institutes of Health, one in seven Americans, struggles with some type of learning disability, proving the importance of getting you or your family members tested for cognitive skills weaknesses.
By: Paul Counts
