What in the world is wrong, or so difficult, as learning the multiplication tables, or “i” before “e”? I wasn’t an Einstein in math but I learned then and still automatically use the multiplication tables most every day of my life. I’d hate to think I had to use some convoluted, non-sensical method as I see in the extant example. I’m not aiming my comments at you in particular but this math method is asinine and pure crap.
I saw another example on FR last week. I showed it to an engineer and a college math student and neither of them understood the principle behind it or even how to do it.
“What in the world is wrong, or so difficult, as learning the multiplication tables....”
I have nothing against any of these, but what is wrong with learning that there is more than one way to skin a cat? I think it makes cat skinning more interesting.
Nothing is wrong with that! From memorization comes knowledge. You cannot move forward in any field until you know the basics. And the basics are most efficiently acquired through memorization.
Sadly, this latest fad, Common Core, frowns on memorization and is trying to replace it with gimmicks. This will cripple a generation of students.
My nieces and nephews in publik junior high do not have their multiplication tables memorized. They said they were told they don’t have to anymore.
Such crap.