Arithmetic – Make it a fun Game

Surinder Bharti Tiwari

QMaths Center of Learning

www.qmaths.com

Mathematics phobia has become a world phenomenon. In my coaching classes throughout my four decade experience, I have found that there are basically two types of mathematics students. First, those who are very good and really brilliant at Mathematics, they may be God gifted or they can be hard workers but they have a very good understanding of the subject. Second, students who are weak at mathematics and they have a strong belief that MATH is not their cup of tea. They had developed a Mathematics phobia within them. Some of them even had made serious efforts in their starting years of school education to get rid of this kind of phobia; they were unable to understand the subject. For these students reasons can be many but never a curse of GOD. (As some people suggest) They can be treated for their weakness at Mathematics by infusing confidence and making arithmetic a fun.

To be brilliant at Mathematics, the first requirement is confidence to learn Mathematics. In most of the cases, loss of self-confidence to be able to learn mathematics is the main reason. In higher classes, especially after 8^th standard, it is too hard to change a dull to brilliant in Mathematics. Still, I believe, IT IS NEVER TOO LATE and NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE, WE SHOULD BELIEVE IT AS POSSIBLE.

I am quoting here some of the Mathematics shortcuts that can make Mathematics a fun game but only for those who practice it, just reading can do no better. These also develop confidence for learning Mathematics.

One of the areas of MATHEMATICS that generally troubles the students is fraction. I would like to mention two very simple things about FRACTIONS. For addition or subtraction of mixed fractions, first of all, mixed fractions has to be converted into improper fraction and then by finding the LCM of the denominators of the given fractions, the fractions are added or subtracted as the case may be. If there are two fractions to be added or subtracted, we NEED NOT TO change these into improper fraction. Just follow the below given system:Here we add 2 and 11 to find 13, then add the fraction. By cross multiplying we find 3X1= 3 and 2X7=14, adding we get 3 + 14 = 17. Multiply the denominators i.e. 7X3=21, so the answer is 13 17/21

Had there been 345 instead of 2 or 678 instead of 11, our method would remain the same and we would just add the two whole numbers (345, 678) to find 1023, rest the answer of the fraction remains the same. In this way we can save up to 95% of our time in solving such fractional sums. In case of subtraction, the method remains the same. There is also easy method to add, subtract, add and subtract more than two fractional numbers. There is even multiply method of such fractional numbers without changing mixed fractions into improper fractions. These kinds of methods have proved very helpful in boosting the confidence in MATHEMATICS and understanding the basic concept of FRACTION.

Squaring of halves and quarters (Fractions) is as easy as anything. In case of halves, simply multiply the whole number with the next number (Number + 1) and put ¼ after the product and the answer is with you. Example:

8½ X 8½ = (8 X 9) ¼ = 72¼

Or 4½ 4½ = 20¼

In case of quarters, square the whole number and add half of the whole number, then put 1/16 after the product. Example:

8¼ X 8¼ = (8 X 8 +8/2) 1/16 = (64 + 4) 1/16 = 68⅟16

4¼ X 4¼ = 18⅟16

I would like to mention one incidence. I was teaching QMaths at a summer camp at Major Ajaib Singh Senior Secondary School, Jiwan Wala, Faridkot and I was asked by a class four student if I remember table for 61. I told him “I do and after few moments everybody sitting there would be able to write it without much problem.” Here is the method:

Write table for six but from RIGHT TO LEFT (As Urdu is written)

We can write table for any number ending with ONE (1) in this way, it just helps the child to understand the basic concept of ARITHMETIC and also infuse confidence. Another Mohali student who finds game in this method, boast of his table knowledge by telling his uncle that he can write table for 201. Notice the confidence he gained!