How are you at maths?

[Luke]

It's something most of us hate, but for some we like it.

How are you at maths? Are you good, bad, ok?

I'm learning to multiply without the need for a calculator. Not your basic 5x3, more stuff like 37261135x16 which is actually really easy. I can multiple numbers from 11-19 now with ease after I learnt an easy way around it which means now I don't need a calculator for those basic long multiplications like the example above!

I'm starting to get there so I would say I'm ok, not great 🙁

 

[Tindris]

I do an awful lot of maths at college and even though I don't enjoy it I am not too bad at it. It is really helpful to have the logical side which maths helps you to develop when programming so hang in there 😉 It only gets harder...

 

[Poopy Head]

I'm not really good at math. :/

 

[kavin]

more stuff like 37261135x16 which is actually really easy.

An easy mathematical way is multiply it by 6 first and then by 1, and then adding both the number 1 digit apart (I guess you already know that).

37261135x16

37261135 x 6 = 223566810

37261135 x 1 = 37261135

223566810 +
37261135_
----------------
596178160
----------------

 

[cool.phenom]

I'm good in math too. I'm studying at university on mathematical department.So I can't be bad in math 🙂

 

[Poopy Head]

I'm learning to multiply without the need for a calculator. Not your basic 5x3, more stuff like 37261135x16 which is actually really easy. I can multiple numbers from 11-19 now with ease after I learnt an easy way around it which means now I don't need a calculator for those basic long multiplications like the example above!

I've pretty much forgotten how to divide. 😛 Since I have a very bad memory, the summer time screws up my education so badly. o_o

If I got caught with a calculator in school, I would most likely get suspended.

 

[Hissae2]

I'm pretty good at math although I don't really enjoy. I find it much easy than English. D:

 

[Poopy Head]

Math is sadly, my favorite out of many depressing subjects at my school. Therefore it sucks to be bad at it 😛

 

[Zuinag]

I don't particularly like math, but it is a subject I'm good at.

 

[Hotspot]

I cannot stand math! I do not understand it; it actually makes me nervous when I see it too.
I have never been good with it, I have been in summer school three times for math, and I failed college math twice before barely passing it the third time. (Sometimes the third time is a charm!)
I also never learned long division, the teacher passed me anyways. I did my best, but I just never got it right, no matter how hard I tried.

No matter how hard I try, Math NEVER makes sense to me and I just cannot stand it! I can really only do very simple addition and subtraction.... my little brother actually makes fun of me for being so horrible at math... XD
I just cannot do it; but I hate people who love math and think everyone should like it and how it's so essential to everyday life.
I have no problem with people who like math, but I have a problem with people who try to force it on you.

 

[David]

"Learning without the need for a calculator" is handy, but it would never be a criteria to distinguish how good a mathematician you are.

Saying you're good/ok/bad at maths based on how far you can multiply is rather blind. Understanding theorems distinguishes good mathematicians from ok mathematicians. Successfully applying theorems distinguishes great mathematicians from good mathematicians.

 

[Surfinwind]

I'm not really good at maths. I was not too bad when I left school, but now I can barely remember the basics of Pythagoras theorem.

 

[Luke]

more stuff like 37261135x16 which is actually really easy.

An easy mathematical way is multiply it by 6 first and then by 1, and then adding both the number 1 digit apart (I guess you already know that).

37261135x16

<a href="tel:37261135">37261135</a> x 6 = 223566810

<a href="tel:37261135">37261135</a> x 1 = <a href="tel:37261135">37261135</a>

223566810 +
<a href="tel:37261135">37261135</a>_
----------------
596178160
----------------

Much similar way, without writing anything I can work out is in a few easy steps:

1342634x11= 14768974

I'll make a video how.

 

[BtR_Wolf]

"Learning without the need for a calculator" is handy, but it would never be a criteria to distinguish how good a mathematician you are.

Saying you're good/ok/bad at maths based on how far you can multiply is rather blind. Understanding theorems distinguishes good mathematicians from ok mathematicians. Successfully applying theorems distinguishes great mathematicians from good mathematicians.

I'd argue that being able to understand theorems distinguishes great from good, and being able to apply theorems distinguishes good from okay.

Understanding is often more difficult than being able to apply without knowing why.

I did IB Higher Level Maths, but not very well, I must admit - still, I'd consider myself handy at maths, for sure.

 

[David]

I'd argue that being able to understand theorems distinguishes great from good, and being able to apply theorems distinguishes good from okay.

Understanding is often more difficult than being able to apply without knowing why.

I did IB Higher Level Maths, but not very well, I must admit - still, I'd consider myself handy at maths, for sure.

Note the keyword "successfully" which entails understanding the theorem. Of course it's a matter of semantics though.

However, you can understand theorems greatly, but if you can't apply them successfully, then you haven't really done anything with the information.

And I can assure you, understanding theorems is a prerequisite in successfully applying higher order theorems.

Methodology is important; let's say we are finding the determinant of a 4 by 4 matrix. You can apply the coefficient times subtraction of diagonals method, but that's a poor understanding of matrices. If you factorize and then row-reduce the matrix, then multiplying the pivot points, that's a far superior method, and shows you understand the concepts and theorems behind it.

Sure one could just fluke it and get to the answer; this will always happen, but the understanding (in higher order cases) comes from knowing how to apply, when to apply and applying with reason (which must always be shown).

But then again, it also depends on the level of maths you know. Being "good" at secondary school maths is inferior to being "good" at university level maths.

 

[BtR_Wolf]

Agreed on the level of maths statement.

But you can, and I know a number of people who have done this, teach how to do a theorem without understanding it. For example, consider converting imaginary numbers into different forms - I know a number of people who can convert into euler form, cis form and such, but don't understand where it comes from.

 

[Fiona1964]

When I was at school we did sums like this all the time and we never used a calculator as they were not allowed at school not like today where children can even take a calculator into the exam room

 

[acer7]

I am not too good nor bad either in Maths.

 

[ArrangedDeath]

I don't see who people aren't good at maths. Maths was my strongest subject in school. I always got yelled at for not showing my work.

 

[David]

Agreed on the level of maths statement.

But you can, and I know a number of people who have done this, teach how to do a theorem without understanding it. For example, consider converting imaginary numbers into different forms - I know a number of people who can convert into euler form, cis form and such, but don't understand where it comes from.

Yes, I agree with you. There are just many things which students believe are trivialities but there is actually some theorem/meaning behind what they are doing. But this is based on the level of maths you know.