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Basic Maths, Round Numbers and Suanpan

Paddy

Hello everyone,

It's been a while since I posted on here, but I would like to ask if anyone else shares this interest. For the simple reason that I had so much trouble understanding it in school, I have always had a dislike for maths, but, recently, after reading about the Japanese and Chinese abacus and downloading a virtual one, I have discovered that I absolutely love adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing round numbers. I understand the importance of being able to work with numbers that aren't exactly round, but I have found that I see a real beauty and elegance in working with whole round numbers.

In school I had to do maths problems like adding 986 and 512 and I sometimes spent weeks getting my head around the concepts and methods involved, but I understand working with round numbers so much more easily.

Am I the only one who sees the beauty and simplicity in working with round numbers, or can others relate to this as well?

Just curious, I guess.

Parents

  • Thanks for your posts. I was told as a child that I had learning difficulties in maths (which probably turned into a self-fulfilling prophecy) but, over the years I have found ways to cope. I think, as you said Trainspotter, that we are sometimes too reliant on electronic calculators, and, for me, the soroban and suanpan are good ways for me to visualise the numbers and keep track of them (I think my maths deficiency stems from an inability to "see" numbers in my head and to keep track of steps involved in maths problems).

    I think that mental arithmetic should definitely be taught in schools, and, should perhaps be concentrated on, and, for those not so interested in maths, children should be taught to use maths to work out real world problems, such as money, calculating bills, etc.

    I wish I had had the opportunity to experience pre-decimal currency, but, unfortunately, I was born before pre-decimalisation. I can use inches and feet as easily as metres and cms, though.

    There is a call to stop using pennies in our currency, and to round up and down (it will mostly be up, I'm sure), and I think it would certainly make life much easier. I don't hold any particular sentimental feelings towards money at all, although I know some people do.

Reply

  • Thanks for your posts. I was told as a child that I had learning difficulties in maths (which probably turned into a self-fulfilling prophecy) but, over the years I have found ways to cope. I think, as you said Trainspotter, that we are sometimes too reliant on electronic calculators, and, for me, the soroban and suanpan are good ways for me to visualise the numbers and keep track of them (I think my maths deficiency stems from an inability to "see" numbers in my head and to keep track of steps involved in maths problems).

    I think that mental arithmetic should definitely be taught in schools, and, should perhaps be concentrated on, and, for those not so interested in maths, children should be taught to use maths to work out real world problems, such as money, calculating bills, etc.

    I wish I had had the opportunity to experience pre-decimal currency, but, unfortunately, I was born before pre-decimalisation. I can use inches and feet as easily as metres and cms, though.

    There is a call to stop using pennies in our currency, and to round up and down (it will mostly be up, I'm sure), and I think it would certainly make life much easier. I don't hold any particular sentimental feelings towards money at all, although I know some people do.

Children
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