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Yeah, I'm really confused how someone could see multiplication tables as useless. I'm not sure how anyone could become adept at multiplying without memorizing t

Yeah, I'm really confused how someone could see multiplication tables as useless. I'm not sure how anyone could become adept at multiplying without memorizing the relationships between common numbers. Are there grown people out there who add up 8 8's when they need to solve 8*8?

cortesoft 5y ago
There are grown people who plug 8*8 into their phones
- redis_mlc 5y ago
  One step worse is when the phone says 64, and they still don't know what that means. I don't think it's that common yet, but I have met people who hold jobs (for now) but can't estimate what a fistful of 20 dollar bills is worth.
hungryforcodes 5y ago
EXACTLY!
dageshi 5y ago
"You will need to learn this because you won't always have a calculator with you" Turns out, you do always have a calculator with you.
- smolder 5y ago
  A calculator, for me, really doesn't replace the utility of being able to do some basic mathematics in my head. Even if you don't run into a lot of uses for mental math, I'm in the camp that thinks learning 1-10*1-10 and building a sense for numbers will aid in understanding of other concepts and in developing other cognitive abilities. Some carefully designed experiments could convince me otherwise.
- bluecalm 5y ago
  It's not about having a calculator. It's about making quick connections when encountering new facts or numbers. Without sizeable core of memorized facts, results and numbers you will miss a lot of those. It's the very definition of being not that smart.
- uuddlrlr 5y ago
  Being able to easily calculate e.g. $/100g to a rough degree without reaching for your pocket is super handy. I think we could gain from emphasizing math with orders of magnitude, and knowing 1/n's would be super handy too.
- hungryforcodes 5y ago
  I often leave my phone at home to clear my mind and get away from things. I try to be phone free for about 4 hours a day. And during this time I almost always go out. And often I use my multiplication table during this time.

cortesoft 5y ago

There are grown people who plug 8*8 into their phones

redis_mlc 5y ago
One step worse is when the phone says 64, and they still don't know what that means. I don't think it's that common yet, but I have met people who hold jobs (for now) but can't estimate what a fistful of 20 dollar bills is worth.

hungryforcodes 5y ago

EXACTLY!

dageshi 5y ago

"You will need to learn this because you won't always have a calculator with you" Turns out, you do always have a calculator with you.

smolder 5y ago
A calculator, for me, really doesn't replace the utility of being able to do some basic mathematics in my head. Even if you don't run into a lot of uses for mental math, I'm in the camp that thinks learning 1-10*1-10 and building a sense for numbers will aid in understanding of other concepts and in developing other cognitive abilities. Some carefully designed experiments could convince me otherwise.
bluecalm 5y ago
It's not about having a calculator. It's about making quick connections when encountering new facts or numbers. Without sizeable core of memorized facts, results and numbers you will miss a lot of those. It's the very definition of being not that smart.
uuddlrlr 5y ago
Being able to easily calculate e.g. $/100g to a rough degree without reaching for your pocket is super handy. I think we could gain from emphasizing math with orders of magnitude, and knowing 1/n's would be super handy too.
hungryforcodes 5y ago
I often leave my phone at home to clear my mind and get away from things. I try to be phone free for about 4 hours a day. And during this time I almost always go out. And often I use my multiplication table during this time.