/sci/ - Science & Math

i was only taught up to 10X...
i mean, from that you an obviously work out everything else by addition
so 12X14 is like 14X10 + 14X2 = 140 + 28 = 168

>>4354698
Most schools teach up to 12 for some reason. I don't know why either, it's just a standard.

I'm interested in questions 2 and 3 though. I mean, you're already teaching kids how to do it, so why not how to do it with the methods and symbols that will be relevant in later life?

>>4354702
meh, because the education system is retarded?
fuck it, were too old anyway, it doesnt matter to us.

>>4354702

My sister is in elementary school is learning very basic pre-algebra now. When I was her age we had the similar "1+_=3" scenario. I think the schools are learning

>>4354687
Because we don't know the 'best way' to teach math, because there probably isn't one. Some kids have a hard enough time with the current style, some are way ahead of the curve, this is true for every reasonable system of mass education.

>>4354723
I guess everything's going to be all right.

Thinking of x as a number is not as trivial as you think. I recall having a very hard time not only thinking of it as a number, but I was confused how x could equal one thing in one equation, then something different in another equation.

>>4354764
This. You wouldn't believe the number of people I met in high school that said something along the lines of "I loved math until they started using letters instead of numbers, then I was terrible at it."

People really have a bad time abstracting.

>Get into argument with my sister over what 'algrebra' is.
>She insists that it's just math with numbers, in which a =1, b = 2, c =3.
>Try to explain that the numbers aren't constants
>Everyone else in the school yard agrees with her.
>a + b = 3

>>4354764
>>4354772
Wouldn't getting them at a young age be better then? Teach them both simultaneously. That way they can learn that 1 + x is the same as 1 + _.

>>4354789

OK... so shouldn't they first teach that 1 + _ = 3 before introducing x? Wasn't that OPs question? Did you just make yourself sound like an idiot?

You need multiplications up to twelve to deal with moonspeak American units. In Europe, multiplication tables usually stop at ten.

>>4354818
>You will never live in Europe

You've got to stop somewhere, and things are often sold by the dozen, or the gross.

>>4354823
meh, we're being outbreeded by muslims anyway...you're probably better off, considering how fucked we'll all be in the next few decades...

>>4354818
You need multiplication tables up to 12 to be superior to the inferior European multiplication tables.

So they can be bakers or egg carton fillers.

You learn up to 12 so you can handle the Imperial system quickly in your head - how many pennies in 7 shillings and so on.

>>4354910
Finally, a non retarded answer. I recommend Yahoo Answers next time OP.