How well do you know the multiplication table?

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    Multiplication Table
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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on the varying levels of proficiency in mental multiplication among individuals, particularly among undergraduate physics students. Participants share personal experiences regarding their struggles with memorizing multiplication tables, especially for products like 6*7 and 7*8. The conversation highlights the impact of early education methods and the reliance on calculators, which has led to a decline in mental math skills. Ultimately, the consensus emphasizes the importance of mental math in both academic and professional settings.

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  • #61
I knew it in the first years of school, nowadays I just calculate them. It's easy if you make it into parts, 7*3 + 7*3 and it's easy.
 
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  • #62
If you're going to be doing arithmetic often it is worth learning tables to save time. At school I was taught by wrote - two twos are four, three twos are six etc. up to 12x12. These stuck with me and when I was about 30, while training for a half marathon I extended this up to 20x20 - not much else to do while bashing out the miles at night :).
 
  • #63
When I was 4th grade, my father drove me to school. He made me recite my 12 x 12s every morning. I also had to memorize perfect squares up to 20.
 
  • #64
i'm very good in multiplication tables... all beacuse long time ago I've learned this rules by this site - http://Aztekium.pl/Master :)
It can be helpful for y'all so better check it out.
Regards
 
  • #65
Kevin McHugh said:
When I was 4th grade, my father drove me to school. He made me recite my 12 x 12s every morning. I also had to memorize perfect squares up to 20.
I knew my 1x1s table by 3! :).
 
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  • #66
WWGD said:
I knew my 1x1s table by 3! :).
That's quite old! 3! = 6, and 3! = 6! = 720. I don't really believe you're that old.:oldbiggrin:
It shouldn't take more than a year or two to learn all the products in that table...
 
  • #67
Mark44 said:
That's quite old! 3! = 6, and 3! = 6! = 720. I don't really believe you're that old.:oldbiggrin:
It shouldn't take more than a year or two to learn all the products in that table...

Actually, the double factorial is defined differently than that https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_factorial
So ##3! = 3##, which is in line with his statement.

However, I think this notation for double factorials is pretty horrible.
 
  • #68
You're right, micromass. I was interpreting 3! as (3!)!
 
  • #69
I did this in my head while (failing) to fall asleep. Can't bring a calculator to bed.
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/joystick-geometry.885203/#post-5568515
I did it rounded to zero decimal places in my head, then followed up in the morning with pencil and paper to one decmial place.
I could do it to an arbitrary number of decimal places*, but there's no point.

*OK, I can't do square roots to more than one decimal place.
 
  • #70
Mark44 said:
You're right, micromass. I was interpreting 3! as (3!)!
But the smiley takes care of any doubt :) ( :))
 

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