Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mental Math Tips & Tricks with Vedic Math
Today, many people have bad memories and negative opinion about Math. But whether you struggled to understand Math or you were just mentally lazy, there is one thing that did NOT cause the problem for sure...
...your basic intelligence level.
Jedediah Buxton (1707 - 1772) was an illiterate, "simple-minded" man who could multiply huge numbers by methods entirely of his own invention.He was no scholar. He simply saw the relationship among numbers that most people don't see.This special perspective on numbers and their relationships has only been available to those people fortunate to discover it for themselves.However there is a method that can give you this number sense - a method that was used centuries ago by the sages of India...
What is Vedic Math?
Vedic Mathematics is the name given to the ancient system of Mathematics which was rediscovered from the Vedas between 1911 and 1918 by Sri Bharati Krsna Tirthaji (1884-1960). According to his research all of mathematics is based on sixteen Sutras or word-formulae. For example, 'Vertically and crosswise' is one of these Sutras. These formulae describe the way the mind naturally works and are therefore a great help in directing the student to the appropriate method of solution.
How did I discover it?
On my trip to India in 2003, being a book bee I stumbled on a book from Sri Bharati Krsna Tirthaji titled 'Vedic Mathematics or Sixteen Simple Mathematical Formulae from the Vedas'. I was instantly amazed by this book and wondered why was the whole world not using this method?Today the Vedic system is getting more and more popular. Many education centers in India are using this centuries old technique to enhance the standards of modern day students.
Today many parents and students ask:Why weren't we taught this before?
What will Vedic Math do for you and how?
Once the basic numbers are understood, the whole subject of Math can be developed without any external help.
Numbers are totally reliable and dependable. Unlike human beings, the numbers always behave in the same way.
The benefits of Vedic math are many:
It will improve your memory.
It will give you more confidence.
You will gain the ability to do quick calculations: at store checkouts, at work, on the phone and if you are a student taking time constraint exams - this will be a boon.
Let me give you a quick example:
43 x 47 = ?
It is quite simple since both digits start from 4 you take 4 and multiply by 5 which gives you 20 and take 3 and multiply by 7 which gives you 21, so the final answer is 2021.
Today the Vedic system is becoming more and more successful because it is a natural complete system. It works the way our mind works.
For example, in order to subtract 37 from 64, you would probably set the numbers one below the other and use the subtraction method you have been taught (the current traditional method)But stop and study these numbers briefly. Notice that 37 is 3 below 40. So take 40 from 64 (and we get 24) and add 3 back to get 27.
This process is more in tune with our natural thinking processes than the traditional, formal steps we learn in school.
So without boring you further let me show you some quick examples which will blow your mind.
...your basic intelligence level.
Jedediah Buxton (1707 - 1772) was an illiterate, "simple-minded" man who could multiply huge numbers by methods entirely of his own invention.He was no scholar. He simply saw the relationship among numbers that most people don't see.This special perspective on numbers and their relationships has only been available to those people fortunate to discover it for themselves.However there is a method that can give you this number sense - a method that was used centuries ago by the sages of India...
What is Vedic Math?
Vedic Mathematics is the name given to the ancient system of Mathematics which was rediscovered from the Vedas between 1911 and 1918 by Sri Bharati Krsna Tirthaji (1884-1960). According to his research all of mathematics is based on sixteen Sutras or word-formulae. For example, 'Vertically and crosswise' is one of these Sutras. These formulae describe the way the mind naturally works and are therefore a great help in directing the student to the appropriate method of solution.
How did I discover it?
On my trip to India in 2003, being a book bee I stumbled on a book from Sri Bharati Krsna Tirthaji titled 'Vedic Mathematics or Sixteen Simple Mathematical Formulae from the Vedas'. I was instantly amazed by this book and wondered why was the whole world not using this method?Today the Vedic system is getting more and more popular. Many education centers in India are using this centuries old technique to enhance the standards of modern day students.
Today many parents and students ask:Why weren't we taught this before?
What will Vedic Math do for you and how?
Once the basic numbers are understood, the whole subject of Math can be developed without any external help.
Numbers are totally reliable and dependable. Unlike human beings, the numbers always behave in the same way.
The benefits of Vedic math are many:
It will improve your memory.
It will give you more confidence.
You will gain the ability to do quick calculations: at store checkouts, at work, on the phone and if you are a student taking time constraint exams - this will be a boon.
Let me give you a quick example:
43 x 47 = ?
It is quite simple since both digits start from 4 you take 4 and multiply by 5 which gives you 20 and take 3 and multiply by 7 which gives you 21, so the final answer is 2021.
Today the Vedic system is becoming more and more successful because it is a natural complete system. It works the way our mind works.
For example, in order to subtract 37 from 64, you would probably set the numbers one below the other and use the subtraction method you have been taught (the current traditional method)But stop and study these numbers briefly. Notice that 37 is 3 below 40. So take 40 from 64 (and we get 24) and add 3 back to get 27.
This process is more in tune with our natural thinking processes than the traditional, formal steps we learn in school.
So without boring you further let me show you some quick examples which will blow your mind.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Introduction to Vedic Math
Vedic Mathematics has no legal definition. Hindu philosophy is based on Veda-s (ancient scriptures written in Sanskrit). And mathematics translated from these texts is termed as Vedic Mathematics. These ancient scriptures were rediscovered by Sri Bharati Krsna Tirthaji (1884-1960) and he translated the complex text into simpler understandable mathematics.
The system is based on 16 Vedic sutras or aphorisms, which are actually word-formulae describing natural ways of solving a whole range of mathematical problems. Some examples of sutras are "By one more than the one before", "All from 9 & the last from 10", and "Vertically & Crosswise". These 16 one-line formulae originally written in Sanskrit, which can be easily memorized, enables one to solve long mathematical problems quickly. These formulae describe the way the mind naturally works and are therefore a great help in directing the student to the appropriate method of solution.
Perhaps the most striking feature of the Vedic system is its coherence. Instead of a hotchpotch of unrelated techniques (current traditional system taught in every day life) the whole system is beautifully interrelated and unified: the general multiplication method, for example, is easily reversed to allow one-line divisions and the simple squaring method can be reversed to give one-line square roots. And these are all easily understood. This unifying quality is very satisfying; it makes mathematics easy and enjoyable and encourages innovation.
In the Vedic system 'difficult' problems or huge sums can often be solved immediately and by knowing the sixteen sutras. These striking and beautiful methods are just a part of a complete system of mathematics which is far more systematic than the modern 'system'. Vedic Mathematics manifests the coherent and unified structure of mathematics and the methods are complementary, direct and easy.
The simplicity of Vedic Mathematics means that calculations can be carried out mentally (though the methods can also be written down). There are many advantages in using a flexible, mental system. Pupils can invent their own methods to provide a conclusion; they are not limited to the one 'correct' method. It is a mental tool for calculation that encourages the development and use of intuition and innovation, while giving the student a lot of flexibility, fun and satisfaction. Therefore, it's direct and easy to implement in schools — a reason behind its enormous popularity among educationists and academicians.
Interest in the Vedic system is growing in education where mathematics teachers are looking for something better and finding the Vedic system is the answer. Research is being carried out in many areas including the effects of learning Vedic Maths on children; developing new, powerful but easy applications of the Vedic Sutras in geometry, calculus, computing etc.
But the real beauty and effectiveness of Vedic Mathematics cannot be fully appreciated without actually practicing the system. One can then see that it is perhaps the most refined and efficient mathematical system possible.
The system is based on 16 Vedic sutras or aphorisms, which are actually word-formulae describing natural ways of solving a whole range of mathematical problems. Some examples of sutras are "By one more than the one before", "All from 9 & the last from 10", and "Vertically & Crosswise". These 16 one-line formulae originally written in Sanskrit, which can be easily memorized, enables one to solve long mathematical problems quickly. These formulae describe the way the mind naturally works and are therefore a great help in directing the student to the appropriate method of solution.
Perhaps the most striking feature of the Vedic system is its coherence. Instead of a hotchpotch of unrelated techniques (current traditional system taught in every day life) the whole system is beautifully interrelated and unified: the general multiplication method, for example, is easily reversed to allow one-line divisions and the simple squaring method can be reversed to give one-line square roots. And these are all easily understood. This unifying quality is very satisfying; it makes mathematics easy and enjoyable and encourages innovation.
In the Vedic system 'difficult' problems or huge sums can often be solved immediately and by knowing the sixteen sutras. These striking and beautiful methods are just a part of a complete system of mathematics which is far more systematic than the modern 'system'. Vedic Mathematics manifests the coherent and unified structure of mathematics and the methods are complementary, direct and easy.
The simplicity of Vedic Mathematics means that calculations can be carried out mentally (though the methods can also be written down). There are many advantages in using a flexible, mental system. Pupils can invent their own methods to provide a conclusion; they are not limited to the one 'correct' method. It is a mental tool for calculation that encourages the development and use of intuition and innovation, while giving the student a lot of flexibility, fun and satisfaction. Therefore, it's direct and easy to implement in schools — a reason behind its enormous popularity among educationists and academicians.
Interest in the Vedic system is growing in education where mathematics teachers are looking for something better and finding the Vedic system is the answer. Research is being carried out in many areas including the effects of learning Vedic Maths on children; developing new, powerful but easy applications of the Vedic Sutras in geometry, calculus, computing etc.
But the real beauty and effectiveness of Vedic Mathematics cannot be fully appreciated without actually practicing the system. One can then see that it is perhaps the most refined and efficient mathematical system possible.
