The Psychology of ArithmeticThorndike, Edward L. (Edward Lee)
Science
The Psychology of Arithmetic
Thorndike, Edward L. (Edward Lee)
Arithmetic -- Study and teaching
Hunt ['12] has noted the more important games which have some
considerable amount of arithmetical training as a by-product and which
are more or less suitable for class use. Flynn ['12] has described
games, most of them for home use, which give very definite arithmetical
drill, though in many cases the drills are rather behind the needs of
children old enough to understand and like the game itself.
It is possible to utilize the interests in mystery, tricks, and puzzles
so as to arouse a certain form of respect for arithmetic and also to get
computational work done. I quote one simple case from Miss Selkin's
admirable collection ['12, p. 69 f.]:--
I. ADDITION
"We must admit that there is nothing particularly interesting in
a long column of numbers to be added. Let the teacher, however,
suggest that he can write the answer at sight, and the task will
assume a totally different aspect.
"A very simple number trick of this kind can be performed by
making use of the principle of complementary addition. The
arithmetical complement of a number with respect to a larger
number is the difference between these two numbers. Most
interesting results can be obtained by using complements with
respect to 9.
"The children may be called upon to suggest several numbers of
two, three, or more digits. Below these write an equal number of
addends and immediately announce the answer. The children,
impressed by this apparently rapid addition, will set to work
enthusiastically to test the results of this lightning
calculation.
"Example:-- 357 } 999
682 } A × 3
793 } ----
2997
642 }
317 } B
206 }
"Explanation:--The addends in group A are written down at
random or suggested by the class. Those in group B are their
complements. To write the first number in group B we look at the
first number in group A and, starting at the left write 6, the
complement of 3 with respect to 9; 4, the complement of 5; 2, the
complement of 7. The second and third addends in group B are
derived in the same way. Since we have three addends in each
group, the problem reduces itself to multiplying 999 by 3, or to
taking 3000 - 3. Any number of addends may be used and each addend
may consist of any number of digits."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account