The Real Benefit of Learning Mathematics: A Conversation with Dr Ron Aharoni

摘要

RA: Instead of an answer – a story. A couple of weeks ago I taught a third grade class. The topic was the multiplication table. I asked a student to come to the front of the class, and raise both hands – how many tens do you see? – I asked. One ten, they said. One times 10 is 10, we all said aloud. Now put down one finger, I asked. What do you see? One times 9 is 9. Now I asked another student to come to the front of the class, they both raised all fingers – 2 times 10 is 20, we all said. Now let each of you put down one finger – what do you see? 2 times 9. And how many fingers did they put down together? 2. So 2 times 9 is 20-2. We continued like this– it doesn’t take that long. When we got to having 7 students come to the front of the class, I asked the class– before they raise their hands, please tell me how do you calculate 7 times 9? They knew: 70 – 7. The entire class was filled with joy. They understood a principle, and they were happy about it.