Singapore Math

Singapore math  is a teaching method based on the national mathematics curriculum used for kindergarten through sixth grade in Singapore. Singapore math, also known as the “mastery approach”: students learn a specific concept  in a linear progression before moving to the next more complex subject. Students learn and master fewer mathematical concepts at greater detail using a three-step learning process: concrete, pictorial, and abstract. These are techniques of the teaching methods: to cover fewer topics in greater depth, handling objects such as pencils, dice, or paper clips, pictorial visualisation by drawing diagrams, bar modelling (a pictorial method used to solve arithmetic problems). Bar modelling is far more efficient than the “guess-and-check” approach. A 2015 study of 140 schools in the UK by found that the mastery approach improved the speed at which students learned math skills.

This is how Jeff Bezos, the richest man on the planet teaches maths to his children.

 

 

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Math Symbols

We use math symbols to express complex mathematical texts in a shorter form.

=   replaces   “is equal to”

+ replaces “and”

×   replaces   “multiplied by”

. . . .

There are many Greek symbols like   π ∑   and special symbols like   √ ∞ ∈   in mathematics.

John David Walters explains where math symbols come from in the video:

A Self-educated Mathematician Established the Boolean Algebra

George Boole (1815–1864)

The term “Boolean algebra” honors George Boole (1815–1864), a self-educated English mathematician. Boolean algebra captures essential properties of both set operations and logic operations. Boolean logic is credited with laying the foundations for the information age (computers and cell phones).

One of the puzzles on Boolean logic:

There are three balls X, Y and Z. They are colored red, white and blue, but not necessarily in this order. One, but only one, of the following statements is true:

X is red

Y is not red

Z is not blue

How many solutions does the puzzle have?

Think yourself before checking the solution.

Markov Chain in Every Day Life

The picture shows a subway map.  A team of inspectors verifies passengers’ tickets at a station on a line, or all lines through it if there are many lines.  Then they randomly choose the next neighboring station and move there to make their inspection.

Subway map

How many times higher is the probability of being inspected at station C than at station A?

Are you eager to know the answer? Try yourself before reading how Markov Chain helps to solve the problem. The answer is here.

 

 

The perfect explanation is given in the PBS Infinite Series video:

Is Zero Your Hero?

Everybody has a favorite number.  What number is your hero?

Not Knowing Math Can Cost $15,000

 

A big number of people can lack basic math skills.

Follow Your Passion in Math

Grow your passion by motivating practice like the 11-year-old Math Marvel

“Chess is a mathematical poem” – Aarushi Maheshwari