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Home < Archives < Progressive Observable Motivated Mathematics Education << 1 arithmetic with unsigned numbers

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Arithmetic With Unsigned Numbers (Items 1-17)

Master Operations with whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percentages and radicals.  In mastery of fractions and radicals (square roots and cube roots) employ prime factorizations (see below)  to aid operations. For the sake of algebra, an efficient mastery of exact arithmetic with whole numbers, fractions and radicals without a calculator is expected. 

  1. Exact and Efficient Arithmetic with Decimals (grades 4 to 8):   This will employ place value and place-value based methods for counting, addition, comparison, subtraction, multiplication and division.  Avoidance of the domino effect of errors and approximations should be emphasized here. Learn how to add using subtotals. Learn how to multiply using subproducts. 
  2. Reading Large and Small Numbers Aloud: Develop number sense and humour with  the ability to read out aloud, decimals with many, many decimal places before and after the decimal point. 
  3. Prime Factorization of Whole Numbers (grades 7 & 10): with use in operations with fractions, in simplifying radicals - converting to standard form, counting and generating integral factors of whole numbers. Explain that products may be calculated using subproducts to explain how to group prime factors. Use Prime Factorization to find gcd, lcd for the efficient addition and reduction of fractions. Use Factorizations to generate all whole number factors of a whole number. For quick  prime factorization, use the property that a whole number is composite (non-prime) if and only if has a prime divisor less than the square root of the whole number. 
    Prime Factorization Methods etc. For an exact and efficient command of  algebra students need an efficient and exact operational command of arithmetic with decimals, fractions and primes sans and with calculators. A command of place value methods for multiplication and division of decimals eases the way for a similar command of column methods for multiplication and division of polynomials.  The ability to find the prime decomposition of whole numbers less than 200 quick say is a must for exact arithmetic with fractions and the expression of surds in standard form. Part or all of this material would be covered in junior high school in other mathematics programs.

     

  4. Arithmetic without and with Calculators  (grades 4 to 8):   Be able to do exact arithmetic with decimals and fractions without a calculator. That being proven, use Calculators to do approximate and exact calculations. For example for one number divided by a smaller number, take the integral part of the approximate quotient provide by a calculator to find the number of whole times one number goes into a larger one. Take the fractional part times the divisor to estimate the remainder. Have the calculator display a sufficient number of digits to avoid wrong results. 
  5. Exact and Efficient Arithmetic with Fractions (grades 4 to 8):  This will employ least common multiples, greatest common divisors, least common denominators and various methods with and without prime factorization, and may Euclid Algorithm to find them. Add using subtotals. Multiply using subproducts.  Identify Ratio of Part to Whole with a fraction. But explain that some ratios (part to part, and multiple term ratios) cannot be identified with fractions. 
  6. Multiplicative Inverse  (grades 8 or 9): The multiplicative inverse of an unsigned number equals 1 divided by its unsigned part.   With that,   a ÷ b = a × ( 1 ÷ b ) in the like 
  7. Social Arithmetic  (grades 7 and 8): Employ arithmetic with decimals, fractions and percentages in common problems from daily life at home and work, or in buying and selling goods and services.  Use subtotals to calculate sums of assets and debts.
  8. Working With Unit of Measures (grades 7 and 8): Master arithmetic or fractions operations when units are present in numerators and denominators. In particular, work with numerical multiples of monomials in units of measure (length, time, mass, etc) alone or in the numerators and denominators of fractions.  Use units, products of units (monomials in them) alone and in fraction with units to represent physical quantities and in general to learn about arithmetic with units: multiplication and  division and then where possible, addition, subtraction and comparison.  Learn that use of units, monomials in them and fractions with units is a notational convenience.  Express per unit costs, speed, rates of change in terms of fractions with units. 
  9. Estimation (grades 7 onward): Estimate and approximate arithmetic results by rounding numbers to the nearest unit, ten, hundred, etc. Steps should be done and recorded on paper using say the approx equal sign.  Exception:  Advance mathematics implies that rounding in approximate calculations should be delayed and that all intermediate calculations should be done with the greatest number of digits that can be carried  for results with the greatest accuracy.)
  10. Use and understand mean, median, mode (grades 7 and 8): For small set of numbers, this may be an exercise in exact arithmetic with whole numbers and fractions. For larger sets, this may be an exercise in calculator used. Talk about average wage calculations. Require the input for these calculations to be recorded and along with a term or a few words to say what is be computed, so that what is being computed is fully described. 
  11. Counting Practice - Recognized and Sanctioned (grades 7 and 8) Assume the number of elements in a set may be calculated as the sum of subcounts with the understanding that the set may be partitioned into subsets in arbitrary manner  to obtain those subcounts.  After mastery of set language, a precise symbolic version of this law may be understood.  (young children students may learn to count and check counts by recounting in different orders, with or without the aid of grouping. That common practice needs to be recognized and sanctioned.
  12. Addition Rule (Generalized Commutative- Associative Property of Sums) Recognized and Sanctioned (grades 7 and 8): Assume sums of unsigned numbers may be calculated as the sum of  subtotals with the understanding that addends can be partitioned into subsets in arbitrary manner and order for the calculation of subtotals.   After mastery of set language, a precise symbolic version of this law may be understood. 
  13. Product Rule (Generalized Commutative- Associative Property of Products) Recognized and Sanctioned (grades 7 and 8): Assume Products of unsigned numbers may be calculated as the products of subproducts with the understanding that factors can be partitioned into subsets in arbitrary manner and order for the calculation of subproducts. After mastery of set language, a precise symbolic version of this law may be understood. 
  14. Direct Sum (Additive) Area Calculation (grades 7 and 8):  First, learn how to calculate areas of regions decomposable (some observation required) into regions whose areas are given by formulas may be calculated by subdivision and adding subareas.  Subareas may be given by fractions of circles: half, third, quarter. Then calculate total areas via the sum of subareas.  Students have to be told to watch for situations which the foregoing aids area calculation.  
  15. Indirect Sum Area Calculation (grades 7 and 8): Imagine the area of a region may be calculated by a direct sum of subregion areas (subareas).   Then a union of some subregions may be calculated by subtracting from the area of the region, the direct sum of all subregion areas for subregions not in the union.  Students have to be told to watch for situations which the foregoing aids area calculation. 
  16. Direct Sum (Additive) Volume Calculation (grades 8 and 9):  First, learn how to calculate volumes of solids decomposable (some observation required) into regions whose volumes are given by formulas may be calculated by subdivision and adding subvolumes.  Subvolumes may be given by fractions of shapes with known volumes. Then calculate total volume via the sum of subvolumes.  Students have to be told to watch for situations which the foregoing aids volume calculation.  
  17. Indirect Sum Volume Calculation (grades 8 and 9): Imagine the volume of a solid may be calculated by a direct sum of subregion vvolumes (subvolumes).   Then a union of some subregions may be calculated by subtracting from the volume of the region, the direct sum of all subregion volumes for subregions not in the union.  Students have to be told to watch for situations which the foregoing aids area calculation. 

Teachers & Tutors: Site pages offer better or best practices for providing skills - simpler than expected & comprehensive but for exercises. For your charges, your duty is to study them alone or in groups and develop skill building exercises & activities to share. Start now. The effort here is the best I can do. Others are welcome to refine or exceed it. Please do.

Secondary Mathematics for Ages 11+, A Practical Approach for home-tutoring or -schooling, or for schools & colleges with local curriculum control. Study how to include site content - its skill development how-TOs and innovations into present or future lesson plans - some reading required.

Road Safety Messages and Questions: When and why should you face traffic when walking along a road or cycle path? Is it a good idea to hang limbs outside of cars etc? What gives more protection in a crash: a car, motorbike or bicycle? See too, the BBC-Belgium story Texting and Driving - texting & the impossible test - the article links to a gruesome utube video on the subject

The Logic of Injustice: How Texas sent an innocent man to his death - The wrong Carlos. Some judgments are irreversible. Procescution: Where and when prosectors play to win rather than for justice, guilt beyond a reasonable doubt goes unrespected due to prosecutors who putting winning first, those innocence before the law may be convicted. Some procescutors offices in continuing to accuse after a pardon due to reasonable doubt or innocent being shown, may sucessfully oppose compensaton for false convictions by asserting a pardon individual is still under suspicion. Then the pardoned individual or the latter's estate is not compensation for years or decade of improper or false imprisonment, or for execution. Site chapters on Logic
and some in Pattern Based Reason may slowly lead to greater precision in reading, applying and writing laws.

May 2012, Composition Starting: Pre-School and Primary Mathematics - Quantitative Skills, An Intellectual View, Feedback Welcome:

The 8 Most Popular Site Inlinks

20 Times Table - the most popular site page - popular pages - unexpected.
Fractions & Ratios - with lesson on raising terms to introduce & justify times, division & comparison as well addition & subtraction
Parent Center - See below
Volume 1, Elements of Reason - Intro to all site books.
What is a Variable - best for ages 13+
Written work formats for Arithmetic and Algebra - a skill method and standard!
Complex Numbers Visually - best for ages 13+
Natural Logs, Exponentials, Powers, Roots

Division of Labour: This site offers advice and directions with pointers to resources elsewhere, if known, when they help or lessen the need to write more.

Parent Center: Help your child or teen learn:

Parent-friendly Work Booklets for ages 3+ to 13 Use these or others to check or build skills. Other booklets are available but these booklets allow parents unsure of themselves in mathematics to help their children. The selection acquired in Canada is published in the USA. So it has a US orientation. In retrospect, the selection shows parents what to check with the booklets or by other ways, the choice is theirs. But in retrospect, the selection does not cover integral and fractions liquid weights and measures - ask the publishers to correct that! For ages 9 to 12 say, parents may compensate by showing boys and girls how to use weights or mass, and further measures in food preparation. Beyond that children may be shown how to measure and calculate angles, lengths and areas [proportional amounts too] directly or by using maps and plans drawns to scale. Learning how to gather and measure all the ingredients, pots and pans for a dish or a meal, along with cleaning up sets the stage for like activities or experiments in science courses, and in developing organizational skills, gives boys and girls a head start. Good luck. At the other extreme, more comprehensive than light, if your motto is McCainian: drill, drill, drill then Toronto mathematician and actor John Mighton's jump math organization has jump math workbooks for at least grades 3 to 8 for at-home and in-school use - training sessions for teachers available. Jump math has been expanding to cover older students. Jump Math Samples: plus Fractions for Grades 3-4 & Grades 5-6 [Read] Free Resources grades 1 to 8 [unread - likely to be good]. and

Mathematics Skills For Ages 3 to 14 - technical!

Skills with take home value - A few ideas

Basic skills include time-date-calendar Matters; money matters; map, plan and scale diagram matters;counting, measuring and figuring; decision making with logic and likelyhood; being careful and being aware of the domino effect of mistakes; reading and writing with precision.

Is your child able to add, subtract and multiply amounts of money, work with fractions, work with clocks and calendars, work with maps and plans, and measure length, weight-mass and volume? Schools may promote your son or daughter without providing basic skills in reading, writing and arithmetic.

Arithmetic and Number Theory Skills

Algebra Starter Lessons

1 Working With Sets
2 Formula Forward Use - Evaluation
3 Solving Linear Equations - Skip first step with students able to solve 1 eqn in 1 unknown.
4 Computation Rules and Function Notation
5 Real Numbers
6 More Less Greater Than Inequalities and Comparison
7 Axioms Logic and Equivalent Equations
8 Unifying Theme For Algebra
9 Proportionality Backwards and Forwards
10 Examples of Algebraic Reasoning
A Origins of Counting and Figuring Methods
B Real Numbers Extrinsic Development


Site coverage of formuala evaluation format, of computation rules and axioms, and of the forward and backward use of formulas and proportionality relations lessens the amount of natural talent needed to understand and explain algebra.

Geometry - maps plans trigonometry vectors

1 Maps Plans Measurement
2 Euclidean Geometry - Constructions + extras
3 Cartesian and Polar Coordinates
4 Lines and Slopes Take 1
5 What is Similarity
6 Trigonometry first steps
7 Complex Numbers
8 Unit-Circle Trigonometry
9 Lines and Slopes Take 2 with tangent function
10 Intersecting Straight Lines and Transversals
11 Parallel Straight Lines and Transversals
12 Function Translating and Rescaling
13 Vectors
14 Degrees to Radians and Radians to Degrees
15 Arc or Inverse Trigonometric Function

Pre-Teen and young teen mastery of skills and practices which should be common with map-plans-diagrams drawn to scale, contour interpretation included, has actual or potential take-home value for daily- and adult-life in solving routine problems. Elevating some practices to principles, axioms or postualates, provides a base for analytic and Euclidean geometry, an analytic view of similarity, and an efficient mastery of trigonometry and complex numbers. Right triangle trigonometry provide an analytic alternative to solving geometric problems by drawing diagrams to scale.

More Algebra

Natural-Logarithms Exponentials Powers Roots
Five Polynomial Operations
Quadratics Geometrically
Functions
5 Factored Polynomial Sign Analysis Examples
Rewriting algebraic substitution as function substitutions

The first topic leads to a full high school level theory for the forward and backward mastery of growth and decay models and for definition, range and domains of radicals, roots and powers. The next two topics make quadratics and polynomials easier to learn and teach. Site coverage of functions turns vertical and horizontal line rules into computation methods for evaluating functions.

70 Calculus Starter Lessons

Calculus Lessons Elsewhere:

  1. How to Ace Calculus: Street Wise Guide - Mostly Text.

  2. Flash Video for Calculus Phobics

They cover basic topics in ways likely to complement your notes, your textbooks and site material. When Goldilocks trespassed in the house of the three bears, she found three bowls of porridge, two not to her liking, and one just right. Different bears have different tastes. As invited guest here and elsewhere, if one or more explanations is not to liking, try another. It may be better or just right.

Unsolicited Advice

Learning to do and high marks if it comes to easy is often deceptive - light rather than deep. For that reason, students with learning difficulties determined not to let it get in their way may go deeper and farther than those with none. High marks, if the come easy, may be deceptive - provide a too light and not a deep mastery. That could have been your problem in secondary school, one that leads to comprehension shock or difficulties in calculus and more generally in the first year of college. Bon Appetite.


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Home < Archives < Progressive Observable Motivated Mathematics Education << 1 arithmetic with unsigned numbers

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Logic-Reason for all
Careful Thinking
Chains of Reason
Mathematical Induction
Responsibility
Bodies-of-Knowledge

Arithmetic - Ages 10+
1. Deciml Place Value - fun
2. Decimals for Tutors
3. Prime Factors - quickly
4. Fractions + Ratios
5. Arith with units - science

Geometry
1 Maps + Plans Use
2 Euclidean Geometry
3 Rct +Polr Coordinates
4 Lines-Slopes [I]
5. What is Similarity
Algebra Starters - the base
1. Better Work Format
2. Solve Linear Eqns
3. Computation Rules
4. Axioms, Item 3 Viewpnt
5. Formulas Backwards
More Algebra
Logarithms-ax & m/nth roots
Five Polynomial Operations
Quadratics Geometrically
Functions || Vectors too
Arith. Skill Check+Answers
Calculus Prep/Preview
What is a Variable
Why study slopes
Why factor polynomials
Complex Numbers
Limits + Continuity

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