Learning Speed Math?

Question

There have been people on television who can do difficult math in their heads quickly. Awhile ago, a program was introduced on the market to help you to learn how to do it. Does anyone know the name of the program or any info about it?

Answer 1

I don't know what the name of the program would be.

However, unless you want to entertain at parties, you'd be throwing away your money if you paid for such a system, in my opinion.

Why? Well, why is it important to be able to do complex arithmetic in your head? Of what value is it? Calculators are fast and they get the job done, so why bother?

You're better off concentrating on learning ways to attack more complex problems...things that a calculator can't do for you.

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Apparently, based on the thumbs down ratings, people don't agree with my assessment. That's fine; everyone is entitled to his or her opinion.

I've made it through life just fine without being able to multiply 457,234 by 322,912 in my head. I can see the value in a speed reading course -- reading takes time, and there's no device out there that can read it for you and put the information in your head. But there IS a very cheap device that will do complex math for you. So why waste brain space remembering tricks to do something that a calculator can do better and faster?

To be clear, I'm not saying that you shouldn't know how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide without a calculator. In fact, I think it's kind of sad to meet kids who don't know their multiplication tables because they've always relied on a calculator.

Every person ought to be able to do any arithmetic problem without the use of a calculator. But there's no advantage, in my opinion, to being able to do HARD problems in your head, versus using a pencil and a piece of paper.

Does anyone else agree?

Answer 2

Yes, I use this book. Its really good! There's heaps of mental shortcuts and things like that:

Speed Mathematics (Second Edition)
Secrets of Lightning Mental Calculation

By Bill Handley


I beilive you can get it at a regular book shop. Good luck