Math skills
You know, I am a firm believer that the basic education system in India is one of the best (if not the best) in the world. Please note that I primarily speak about the “Delhi boards” i.e the ICSE and CBSE systems. I have no idea about the local boards as I have no personal experience of them. For those who do not know, every state in India has a local education board which sets the syllabus for students’ in the state.
Of course, in most states, the ICSE/CBSE system goes out of the window after the 10th standard (grade). Most students are absorbed into the state board system and only a few schools offer ICSE/CBSE till the 12th standard.
One thing I have seen throughout school is the fact that we were never (ever) allowed calculators. Even during the final grade 10 exams, calculators were not allowed. We were provided log tables in order to complete the problems that required them. The first time I ever used a calculator was in grade 11.
The whole point is that when you are doing a 100 mark math paper in 3 hours without a calcualtor, there are a whole bunch of tricks that you pick up in order to complete questions in time. The simplest example is the rounding off system. For example, if you are adding 76 and 55, simple add the closest multiple of 10 (80 and 60 in this case) and then subtract what’s left. So, 140 - 9 = 131. Of course, this is a very simple example. There are many ways in which lengthy calculations can be avoided using simple mathematics.
However, when everything that is to be done is done by a calculator, a certain amount of the brain just never develops. I know that the US education system delivers calculators to students at a small age. So most students’ use calculators to perform simple addition, subtraction, yada, yada. The problem with this is that the dependency on the calculating machine continues into adulthood.
Consider this small example. A friend of mine is going back home and wanted to purchase a few things to take back home. So we went to a large retail store (no, I am not naming names) and purchased a few of the items we required. Here’s how it went at the checkout.
Ch : (scans items)
Ch : That’s $34.35
Us : Ok. Here’s $50
Ch : (looking at screen) Your change is 15.65
Us : Hang on, we have 35c in change.
Ch : (looking confused) Your change is….
Us : (waiting patiently)
Ch : (looking hassled) Uh..
Ch : (30 sec later) $16!
Us : Thank you.
Give this problem, which is essentially 34.35 - 50 + 0.35, and any kid back home will tell you the answer is 16 (or -16 for purists). Really made my head spin.
Until next time - exercise your brain!
