4 ms·
They can be a miniature sort-of-abacus. Keeping track of a number while you're scanning a lot of other things that occupy your mind. You can even sort of hold b
by rosmax_1337 2y ago
They can be a miniature sort-of-abacus. Keeping track of a number while you're scanning a lot of other things that occupy your mind. You can even sort of hold both the 10¹ digit and the 10⁰ digit on your hands if you're used to it, by semi-extending fingers or other methods, counting up to 100 and "physically" keeping the number in "memory".
Most of the time it's not necessary but if I'm particularly tired I use it sometimes.
- Sakos 2y agoThis is pretty much it. I'll use my fingers if I don't want to keep a number in working memory.
- dylan604 2y agoThe mini-abacus is how I use them as well. I was in a math competition where you were not allowed to use any scratch paper or make any stray marks on the test nor could you attempt to correct your mistakes with an eraser or trying to turn a 7 into a 9 or similar. There was nothing against counting on fingers, so there are time where I still calculate with my finger tips