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Very well said. Though it is worth noting the distinctions between different types of math. I found my studies of theoretical math in college enormous fruitfu

Very well said. Though it is worth noting the distinctions between different types of math. I found my studies of theoretical math in college enormous fruitful just as I found jogging beneficial. But I thought doing numerous arithmetic problems in middle school to be of minimal value and the rote memorization of things like multiplication tables to be worthless. In short, much like exercise, studying math should be done in a way that is pushing your personal limits at least a little.

shasta 14y ago
You don't use multiplication in your life?
- grogs 14y ago
  You don't need to memorise your times tables to do multiplication. I seem to have learnt checkpoints within the times tables; e.g. when asked 76, I do 75+7. I know 10 and 5 times tables instantly, and adding 7 is trivial, so I clearly never bothered to actually learn the 6 times table. Rote learning is generally inferior. Give a man a fish versus teach how to fish.
  - Foy 14y ago
    I thought I was weird for always breaking apart multiplication problems in my head like that. Good to know I'm not alone. Same with addition, 1324 + 1872 is just 2000 + 324 + 872 which is just 3100 + 24 + 74 which is 3196. Math is about creativity, somewhat ironically. ;)
    - coopaq 14y ago
      I would say you were a little bit... 2 creative :)
    - DanBC 14y ago
      > I thought I was weird for always breaking apart multiplication problems in my head like that. It's a technique taught in schools now. (http://www.mad4maths.com/math_help_multiplication/ http://www.mad4maths.com/math_help_multiplication/) See also "Chunking" for division. (http://www.mad4maths.com/math_help_division/ http://www.mad4maths.com/math_help_division/)
      - Foy 14y ago
        Oh cool! I got taught to line up the number in columns, carry the one, etc... really a painful way to do addition. :(
  - absentbird 14y ago
    And fives are just (x*10)/2
  - TeMPOraL 14y ago
    I consider memorizing multiplication table as caching, and find it incredibly useful when doing mental computations. There is a distinction to be made when discussing 'rote learning'. It's always better to understand than to memorize, but there is a case to be made for memorizing some (more mundane) information as an optimization.
  - ckpwong 14y ago
    I learned my multiplication table in Chinese (mother tongue), which was way easier when every line has the exact number of syllables (4), almost like a poem. I believe I was taught at school in grade 1 or 2 back then, but I (and most other people) had it memorized at an earlier age. It's easy enough to "teach" my 3-year-old just by reciting it in front of him. Memorizing multiplication table in English is a lot less intuitive, which I attribute to many people's disdain (or pure hatred, depending on whom you ask) of it. I'm all for teaching a man to fish, but if he's starving at this moment, save him now by giving him the fish fish first before teaching. A dead man doesn't do much learning. As for my son, he hasn't learned the multiplication table yet, but he's always interested to have us repeat it to him. (Ah, the curious minds of 3-year-olds.) In a few years, once he has learned the concept of multiplication, it'll be easier for him to apply it for the rest of his life if he has the table memorized. Before that time comes, the table is nothing but nursery rhyme to him. And that's fine with me.

shasta 14y ago

You don't use multiplication in your life?

grogs 14y ago
You don't need to memorise your times tables to do multiplication. I seem to have learnt checkpoints within the times tables; e.g. when asked 76, I do 75+7. I know 10 and 5 times tables instantly, and adding 7 is trivial, so I clearly never bothered to actually learn the 6 times table. Rote learning is generally inferior. Give a man a fish versus teach how to fish.
- Foy 14y ago
  I thought I was weird for always breaking apart multiplication problems in my head like that. Good to know I'm not alone. Same with addition, 1324 + 1872 is just 2000 + 324 + 872 which is just 3100 + 24 + 74 which is 3196. Math is about creativity, somewhat ironically. ;)
  - coopaq 14y ago
    I would say you were a little bit... 2 creative :)
  - DanBC 14y ago
    > I thought I was weird for always breaking apart multiplication problems in my head like that. It's a technique taught in schools now. (http://www.mad4maths.com/math_help_multiplication/ http://www.mad4maths.com/math_help_multiplication/) See also "Chunking" for division. (http://www.mad4maths.com/math_help_division/ http://www.mad4maths.com/math_help_division/)
    - Foy 14y ago
      Oh cool! I got taught to line up the number in columns, carry the one, etc... really a painful way to do addition. :(
- absentbird 14y ago
  And fives are just (x*10)/2
- TeMPOraL 14y ago
  I consider memorizing multiplication table as caching, and find it incredibly useful when doing mental computations. There is a distinction to be made when discussing 'rote learning'. It's always better to understand than to memorize, but there is a case to be made for memorizing some (more mundane) information as an optimization.
- ckpwong 14y ago
  I learned my multiplication table in Chinese (mother tongue), which was way easier when every line has the exact number of syllables (4), almost like a poem. I believe I was taught at school in grade 1 or 2 back then, but I (and most other people) had it memorized at an earlier age. It's easy enough to "teach" my 3-year-old just by reciting it in front of him. Memorizing multiplication table in English is a lot less intuitive, which I attribute to many people's disdain (or pure hatred, depending on whom you ask) of it. I'm all for teaching a man to fish, but if he's starving at this moment, save him now by giving him the fish fish first before teaching. A dead man doesn't do much learning. As for my son, he hasn't learned the multiplication table yet, but he's always interested to have us repeat it to him. (Ah, the curious minds of 3-year-olds.) In a few years, once he has learned the concept of multiplication, it'll be easier for him to apply it for the rest of his life if he has the table memorized. Before that time comes, the table is nothing but nursery rhyme to him. And that's fine with me.