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Well, there was only a section dedicated to Science! so I wasn't sure where to put this. I'm looking to sharpen my 'numerical reasoning' and other related mathematical skills, would anyone happen to know of a good textbook to work my way through? Thought about that 'Brain Training', but I think that's more dedicated to mental arithmetic rather than working out problems. I know this kind of stuff is available online but to be honest I need something concrete in front of me, where I can't open a new tab to pornhub when I get bored after 5 minutes. Also a lot of the sites look like they were created in the 90s.
Its been 10 years since I did my GCSEs, for which I did very well at, and managed to get a degree in Economics but I have lost my 'edge' somewhat, which I will need to regain for the purposes of testing for potential jobs.
Thanks.
Its been 10 years since I did my GCSEs, for which I did very well at, and managed to get a degree in Economics but I have lost my 'edge' somewhat, which I will need to regain for the purposes of testing for potential jobs.
Thanks.
Can you watch Youtube without flicking to Xhamster? If so, you can get A level maths tuition online and free. Contact your local comp, ask for the examinations officer and put in for the A level exam when you're ready. Cost is about £40 and obviously you'll be in with a load of 17/18 yr olds but so what.
Maths isn't going linear for a few years so you'll have to do AS 1 year and A2 the next.
Maths isn't going linear for a few years so you'll have to do AS 1 year and A2 the next.
Back to brain training, try King of Maths. (Note the S at the end.)
It seems a bit childish (1+2=?) until they start throwing things at you that require you to move one number down, the other number across and up etc to find x. I think I will have to dust down my old scientific calculator.
It seems a bit childish (1+2=?) until they start throwing things at you that require you to move one number down, the other number across and up etc to find x. I think I will have to dust down my old scientific calculator.
It depends a little on what you want exactly. You could print out some A-level past papers;
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/mathematics/a-level...
or try some problems from here (pdfs down the page);
http://mathschallenge.net/archive
On an unrelated note, I went to Ikea the other week and bought a perfectly round table. It came with three (infinitely thin) legs. I can't really be bothered to read the instructions, so I'm going to just bolt the legs on in three completely random positions. Can you tell me the probability my resulting table will stand up?
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/mathematics/a-level...
or try some problems from here (pdfs down the page);
http://mathschallenge.net/archive
On an unrelated note, I went to Ikea the other week and bought a perfectly round table. It came with three (infinitely thin) legs. I can't really be bothered to read the instructions, so I'm going to just bolt the legs on in three completely random positions. Can you tell me the probability my resulting table will stand up?
To be honest if the OP's after arithmetic they can do a fair amount just with thought. When you have a spare few minutes, out on a walk for example or sat waiting for a train, give yourself a sum to do and work out a way to do.
For example, if you don't know your 'times tables' and you need to work out 5x7, that's simply (10x7)/2, which is much easier.
Moving on a level from that you have multiplying and dividing fractions, for example 10.2x5.8, which you can split down by splitting the second term; so firstly 10.2x5, equivalent to (10*5)+(0.2*5) (the latter being half of 0.2*10, or a fifth of 5) = 51. Then just do 10.2*0.8, which is a bit harder, but again you can break it down to (10.2*0.1)*8, which is obviously 1.02*8, which is 8.16. Add the two together and you get the answer, which is 59.16. With some practise you can do a sum like 10.2*5.8 in well under a minute.
You can then move on to working out squares, basic trig etc.
For example, if you don't know your 'times tables' and you need to work out 5x7, that's simply (10x7)/2, which is much easier.
Moving on a level from that you have multiplying and dividing fractions, for example 10.2x5.8, which you can split down by splitting the second term; so firstly 10.2x5, equivalent to (10*5)+(0.2*5) (the latter being half of 0.2*10, or a fifth of 5) = 51. Then just do 10.2*0.8, which is a bit harder, but again you can break it down to (10.2*0.1)*8, which is obviously 1.02*8, which is 8.16. Add the two together and you get the answer, which is 59.16. With some practise you can do a sum like 10.2*5.8 in well under a minute.
You can then move on to working out squares, basic trig etc.
Type R Tom said:
They teach maths differently now from what I’ve seen. Sister is a teacher and I struggle to understand the technique they use for multiplication and diversion, seems overly complicated!
"Box method"?Both of my sons could do long multiplication and division before a school tried to teach them; both were told to ignore this tripe and carry on doing it properly.
I learned addition and subtraction physically/visually using Cuisenaire rods:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuisenaire_rods
And mentally I still do today!
I learned multiplication parrot fashion - though you can sometimes use addition from Cuisenaire as well. Long division was the toughie though!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuisenaire_rods
And mentally I still do today!
I learned multiplication parrot fashion - though you can sometimes use addition from Cuisenaire as well. Long division was the toughie though!
RobM77 said:
Thanks, I'll have a look at that. I never actually learnt my times tables (I didn't really do homework until the second year of Uni) and to this day haven't got a clue what most x*y sums are. I work everything out from scratch every time!
It's a bit like using Google to look things up rather than knowing things. It's fast and convenient as a one-off but much slower in the long run because you never actually learn anything!Simpo Two said:
RobM77 said:
Thanks, I'll have a look at that. I never actually learnt my times tables (I didn't really do homework until the second year of Uni) and to this day haven't got a clue what most x*y sums are. I work everything out from scratch every time!
It's a bit like using Google to look things up rather than knowing things. It's fast and convenient as a one-off but much slower in the long run because you never actually learn anything!
I admit though, it would be handy to know things like 7x8 or 5*6 off by heart instead of having to keep working them out all the time.It's a sign of old age that you look at the way kids are taught to do division and multiplication and automatically think it's inferior to your method.
My kids were taught the "bridging method". It seemed ludicrously complex to me, but they seemed to like it. Both got A* at GCSE, my eldest got B at A level maths, my youngest is doing A level maths now.
In hindsight, there was nothing wrong with the modern method, it was just different, not worse.
My kids were taught the "bridging method". It seemed ludicrously complex to me, but they seemed to like it. Both got A* at GCSE, my eldest got B at A level maths, my youngest is doing A level maths now.
In hindsight, there was nothing wrong with the modern method, it was just different, not worse.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
It's a sign of old age that you look at the way kids are taught to do division and multiplication and automatically think it's inferior to your method.
My kids were taught the "bridging method". It seemed ludicrously complex to me, but they seemed to like it. Both got A* at GCSE, my eldest got B at A level maths, my youngest is doing A level maths now.
In hindsight, there was nothing wrong with the modern method, it was just different, not worse.
Indeed. I've got a maths degree but am still expecting to have to re-learn some stuff as my daughter progresses through school. IMO it's not helpful to her education to suggest her teachers are doing it "incorrectly". I may well show her other ways of getting to the same answer of course, but from her point of view she'll need to know how to pass the exams as well as how to get the right answer.My kids were taught the "bridging method". It seemed ludicrously complex to me, but they seemed to like it. Both got A* at GCSE, my eldest got B at A level maths, my youngest is doing A level maths now.
In hindsight, there was nothing wrong with the modern method, it was just different, not worse.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
In hindsight, there was nothing wrong with the modern method, it was just different, not worse.
Yep - loads of different ways to achieve the same thing - all give the correct answer.I quite like the Japanese way of doing multiplication - very easy and visual method.
Thanks all. The King of Maths app sounds pretty good and something I can do whilst at work to pass some time, albeit at the mercy of iPhone battery life.
Past papers are a good shout, GCSE level is all that's required really. I find I can solve a lot of mathematical problems quite easily but using my own method based on common sense rather than anything else, so in a timed environment it all goes to shit. Correct method for things up to the level of compound percentages, dividing fractions etc with quick mental arithmetic would put me in good stead.
As above I stopped paying attention when we got to differentiation. Did a couple of maths/stats modules in my first year at uni but after that it got a bit complex and too much effort to keep up to speed with something that doesn't come to me naturally.
Can anyone with kids of GCSE age (or anyone of GCSE age) let me know what textbooks they're using?
Past papers are a good shout, GCSE level is all that's required really. I find I can solve a lot of mathematical problems quite easily but using my own method based on common sense rather than anything else, so in a timed environment it all goes to shit. Correct method for things up to the level of compound percentages, dividing fractions etc with quick mental arithmetic would put me in good stead.
As above I stopped paying attention when we got to differentiation. Did a couple of maths/stats modules in my first year at uni but after that it got a bit complex and too much effort to keep up to speed with something that doesn't come to me naturally.
Can anyone with kids of GCSE age (or anyone of GCSE age) let me know what textbooks they're using?
If you're interested in Calculus I did a post a few months ago explaining it in simple terms that was very popular at the time. It's really quite simple if you forget the cack-handed way it's taught in schools and look back at it with fresh eyes.
I can't remember which thread it was, but it was on the Science sub-forum I think.
ETA: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=147...
I can't remember which thread it was, but it was on the Science sub-forum I think.
ETA: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=147...
Edited by RobM77 on Wednesday 23 September 15:26
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