"Collaboration is multiplication." -John C Maxwell
Your dislike for all things mathematics is common to so many other primary and secondary school students. If you were to say that you spent hours on end trying to master the basics of mathematics without succeeding, we would understand. That is why when it comes to mathematics, collaboration is multiplication. So start to collaborate with a tutor. When you work jointly with a mathematics tutor, you may find not only multiplication but other basic mathematical concepts easier to grasp.
Mathematics is part and parcel of your everyday life, and the less you complain about how complicated the subject is, the better. Start to see how we use multiplication in your everyday life so that you can understand why it is all the more necessary to grasp the concept of multiplication.
Whether you like it or not, the basic operations of maths such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division are important to remember due to how important they are in life.
It thus becomes mandatory to master ways to use to perfect your understanding of multiplication so that you can solve a problem related to timetables much easier.
So let's begin by exploring your timetables further.
Tracing the History of Multiplication
When it comes to many math concepts, we learn them simply for the sake of it. We hardly ever pause to think about how these concepts came to be. There are many inventions that made our life easier yet we fail to question where exactly they came from. Multiplication (whether you choose to believe it or not) simplified our lives considerably. Instead of adding forty eight, two hundred times, we can simply use multiplication to do the job.
So let's consider our multiplication table. Researchers are all uncertain as to where the concept of multiplication originated but many mathematicians are sure that the concept of multiplication originated by the Babylonian people and dates back 4000 years.
Babylonians, however, are said to have multiplied differently from us. According to records, it was in fact the Chinese who were the first to make use of the base of 10 timetables. These timetables are also said to have originated in 305 BC with records of multiplication being found on bamboo sticks.
The multiplication chart that we have become accustomed to today arose from the sheer genius of the ancient Greek mathematician Pythagoras (570-495 BC).
All in all, while the debate about the origination of multiplication continues, we are more interested in getting to grips with timetables.
Your daily mental math tests at school has by now most probably taught you the importance of knowing your timetables off by heart rather than using your fingers to calculate what ten times ten is.
Learning the Multiplication Methods
By now, you might have heard every other adult preaching to you about how important knowing your timetables is; but none of these adults have actually given you tips on how to master your timetables.
That is where we step in. We provide guidance as to how to go about mastering your timetables. We start by mentioning the need for preparation. As with all things, you must prepare yourself mentally to learn your timetables. When you are in the mood to sit down and learn your timetables, you won't be trying to find every excuse in the book not to learn your timetables.
Traditional techniques for learning timetables have surely stood the test of time. Your parents will tell you that they repeated two times two is equal to four almost a hundred times before they were confident to move onto two times three. Learning your timetables off by heart is one method to perfect your ability to answer multiplication questions faster and better. However, in keeping up with the times, we must consider more modern approaches to learning timetables.
You can try:
- Checking How Multiplication is Similar to Addition: Since the mathematical concept of addition comes before multiplication, it is highly recommended to relate multiplication to addition and build on its similarities rather than focus directly on memorisation from the get-go. For instance, the first view of multiplication that students should get is that multiplication is simply repeated addition; simple enough, right?
- Start Off Slowly Yet Surely: Make sure that students master multiplying zero and one before moving onto the other numbers. Since this is a new concept, make multiplication enjoyable with visuals such as pictures and diagrams displaying the process. After multiplying zero and one, work towards two, three, four, etc.
- Break Down Memorisation: After the simple numbers have been grasped, students are ready to start working on memorisation techniques. It is essential to state that one of the biggest mistakes in teaching timestables is, to begin with, memorisation. Also, since pupils reviewing multiplication for the first time are quite young, they might not realise how important it is to memorise the entire multiplication chart for their future. Nonetheless, it must be done!
- Play Games: While it may sound very childlike, it is essential to remember that those who are learning their timestables for the first time are under 12 years old! Consequently, it is hugely suggested to play games in maths class that will create positive memories towards multiplication from a young age.
We hope that the previously mentioned techniques will improve the teaching of educators and overall understanding of students when analysing the essential topic of timetables.
Get help learning difficult concepts with maths extra lessons on Superprof.
Solving Multiplication Sums
Here are some ideal ways to assist you when it comes to solving multiplication sums:
- Partitioning numbers: Since not all multiplication sums entail a one digit number being multiplied by another, you can rather easily multiply two digit numbers by separating the digits into tens and units. This makes it far easier to multiply two digit numbers with each other.
- Understanding that multiplication is simply the addition of numbers: If you are really struggling with solving story sums that entail using multiplication, you can solve the same sum using the addition of numbers technique so you get to check your answers.
- Knowing the difference between the multiplicand and multiplier: When we apply a multiplication operation, we ought to know what the numbers are. We need to know that the multiplicand is the number which is being multiplied and the multiplier is the number multiplying the first number. If 40 is being multiplied by 60. Then 40 is the multiplicand and 60 is the multiplier.
- Learn by heart your 2 to 20 times table: In essence, multiplication entails forming tables of numbers. You can much more easily solve timetable related problems if you know your timetables well.
Using the Multiplication Table
Have you heard about the multiplication table? If you have, you would note that the multiplication table contains a list of multiples of a number. You need to realise that you cannot escape multiplication. In fact, during your primary school years, it is the most taught concept. The multiplication table needs to be memorised.
The sooner that you notice that multiplication entails finding patterns, the better. There are some tricks that you can most certainly get away with when you are attempting to solve multiplication problems.
For one, the more you multiply and keep track of your answers, you will see that multiplication by 2 denotes a double number. Multiplication by 3 leads to a triple number, multiplication by 4 leads to double of a double number.
Now multiplying by 5 may be harder. In this case, since everyone knows how to easily multiply by 10, you can divide the number by 2 and then go ahead and multiply by 10. Rather simple right?
You will recall that any number that you multiply by 10, you simply add one zero. If you multiply by 100, you will add two zeros and when you multiply by 1000, you need to add three zeros.
Think about how you can handle multiplication sums by yourself now...
Well, what if you have to multiply by 9? The simplest way that we can tell you to go at it is to add 1 to 9, and minus the number that you are multiplying 9 by from itself. Still not convinced, give it a try.
You will find a pattern in the 9 times table itself. Do you know what it is? If you look at the sum 9 times 10, and go backwards, you will see that the answers start with a 0 and go up to 9 as 1 times 9 is equal to 9. Pretty cool, right?
Hiring a Private Tutor to Help With Your Maths Time tables
If after analysing the basics of timetables and trying to find patterns on your own, you feel that you are still struggling with your timetables, we suggest that you hire a private math tutor.
Why do we suggest that you hire a private math tutor?
- One-on-one attention: When working through math sums with a tutor, all the tutor's time is devoted to helping you to succeed. This is a huge change from the big classroom environment that you have become used to.
- You can learn exciting tips and tricks: Every tutor comes equipped with a unique teaching style and you never know when you can learn to solve multiplication sums ever so easily with some tricks that your tutor will show to you.
- Convenient: Instead of waiting for your parents to get home from school, you have a tutor who will assist you to complete your homework, practice some more, and study after school as well.
While we don't have all the answers to your math exercise, we do have the answer to help you struggle with multiplication less and our answer is simple, Superprof!
All tutors are qualified professionals who are all willing to go the extra mile to ensure that you start improving at your timetables in no time.
Remember finding patterns in math is fun but it is all the more fun when you are working with a one-on-one math tutor who will share that eureka moment with you!
Find a qualified online math tutor on Superprof today!
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