Teaching Binary Numbers

The connection of binary number system to computers makes it a very interesting concept for students. The binary number system helps to store information of all kinds on computers. Computers use binary digits (or bits) because they can only read and store an on or off charge. So, using 0 …

Fun Factors

In today’s post, we will talk about factorization. What it is. How it is done. How it helps us and how to help students understand it. We will dive deep into these with an example for factors of 24. Factoring is a math operation. It is the process of breaking …

The Hindus Multiplication Method

The Hindu Multiplication or Lattice multiplication is an algorithm that was first founded in the 10th century in India. This method was later adopted and introduced in Europe by Leonardo Fibonacci in his Liber Abaci. The method is also called Lattice Multiplication because it requires a rectangular lattice with diagonals drawn through the cells. Each cell …

Great Mathematicians: Pythagoras

Pythagoras of Samos Pythagoras of Samos was a Greek mathematician and philosopher (c. 570 – c. 495 BC). He is known best for the proof of the important Pythagorean theorem, which is about right triangles. He taught a group of mathematicians, called the Pythagoreans, who worshiped numbers and lived like monks. Pythagoras was a great influence on Plato. Pythagoras was born in Samos, a …

Multiplication facts

When students struggle with multiplication facts, solving complicated problems (like for example finding common denominators to add fractions) becomes hard. When they use most of their working memory on simple calculations they have little mental space left for understanding new concepts. Students start learning the multiplication facts in grade 3 …

Learning Fractions

What makes fractions challenging for students? I recently came across a few articles about teaching fractions and realized that educators and parents share the opinion that fractions and their operations are one of the most difficult concepts for students to grasp. Learning the various fraction operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, comparing, simplifying) …

Problem-Solving Strategies

There are many different ways to solve a math problem, and equipping students with problem-solving strategies is just as important as teaching computation and algorithms. Problem-solving strategies help students visualize the problem or present the given information in a way that can lead them to the solution. Solving word problems using …