Mental Math Games (Part 1 of 3)

The attitude and approach to teaching mental arithmetic at school has changed in the last four decades through the widespread use of calculators. Originally introduced in the 1970s, when the calculator is as optimistic, electronic computers were down, so that they are now truly portable and pocket. In addition, the calculations are systematically integrated into other devices from mobile phones and computers for managers and caddies. The adage that you could never be more than three feet from a rat both apply a calculator!

In this brave new world, children would not teach long division or mental arithmetic, or calculation, because the computer was able to complete all processing tasks more quickly and more accurately than the human brain. Rather than stand behind the teachings of other disciplines of mathematics, mental arithmetic would be an interesting change that the teachers are explored with the students of leisure, when the constraints of the program and schedule permitted. While before the learning of skills in mental arithmetic means to an end, people had been possible to function adequately in society arithmetic would in the future, slide rules, multiplication tables and trash will be recorded in the log. The computer does not prevail.

How was that many other technological advances, the reality of the computer did not respond to initial expectations. Calculators are indeed fast, precise and almost ubiquitous, and yet we are still news, where disasters are due to miscalculation seen. In almost all cases it is not the IT system, either a calculator or computer, to calculate the correct answer is failed. Instead, the problem of driver error, so that the person doing the calculation or incorrect data entry or misunderstood the underlying mathematics of computation and received good response to the wrong question.

The reality is that the computer need not release the person to have basic math skills, because a computer requires an understanding of the underlying principles of mathematical calculation. In addition, one could argue that the mental arithmetic skills are needed, can be done to see if the response of the computer is within the expected range for his rapid mental arithmetic. Consider the all too frequent instances of a doctor at a dose of morphine, which is ten times the prescribed amount, to administer the killing of patients. It is unlikely that a doctor who would be good skills in mental arithmetic, such an error. Whether the dose calculated with a calculator or in your head if you have a solid foundation in arithmetic, you’ll discover calculation errors with the help of a calculator.

Fortunately, educators soon realize that there is a greater need to apply basic mathematical and computational skills to teach, including mental arithmetic, as in the pre-computer. Nevertheless, many parents want their child to promote his skills in mental arithmetic, even with them in fun mental activities outside the classroom. The following sections describe the options for training in mathematics as an intellectual extracurricular, mental arithmetic to recreational activities involving mathematics in everyday life of a child after school or on-line games.

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