back-words... multiplicaton tables...

Wednesday, November 15, 2006
multiplication tables...
this is a question that has crossed my mind before, and i found a page that actually addressed the issue. first, i would like to say maybe the asker didnt phrase the question perfectly, but the answerers were complete jackasses to assume this person thought counting stopped at 12. after all, most of the sums are larger than 12... the point is that, at least in the united states, printed multiplication tables in the school systems end at twelve; no more, no less. since this was asked and answered in the uk, i have to assume they do the same. interesting that when a country goes independent from another country, they still use many of the same customs, including money and multiplication table formats- just for starters. i think the first answer provided is probably the more relevant answer.


Why do multiplication tables end at 12?

* MULTIPLICATION tables do not end at 12, they are infinite, but we only learn them up to 12 because they are difficult, we have calculators and as there used to be 12 pence in a shilling this was the most useful number for everyday ready reckoning at the grocer's shop.

* THE TABLES don't stop at 12 - they go on for ever. Perhaps tables aren't taught above twelve because teachers find the 13 times table too difficult, or maybe because in predecimalization days most problems in mental arithmetic could just about be done by memorizing tables up to 12. In France, for example, tables up to 20 are taught in schools. Incidentally, "decimalization" made mental arithmetic more not less difficult in many common situations. Which is easier, working out the total cost of eight cabbages at 1s 5d each or at 17p ? Also, incidentally, there are much better ways to teach mental arithmetic than by memorizing tables, e.g. starting by using the abacus. But these are not commonly used in the West. This might explain the reputed superiority of some South-East Asian countries' elementary school maths results.

source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-2264,00.html