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Finger Counting!
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| eoffg |
Posted on April 04 2007 12:07 PM
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Here's a link to a technique for Finger Counting:
http://www.cs.iup.../chis.html
Geoff , |
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| Laura |
Posted on April 04 2007 03:52 PM
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Location: Scotland
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Geoff, the techniques used look like they would work on me. Also i think counting tens on the left hand is also a really good idea. |
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| vermon |
Posted on April 04 2007 07:42 PM
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Location: the Netherlands
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I think that wouldn't work whit me  weird technic :S
"Zelfverwijt is een vorm van luxe, wie zichzelf iets verwijt, ontneemt de ander daar het recht toe."
Oscar Wilde schrijver (1854-1900)
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wan to know more about me?
Hyves: www.hyves.nl/vermon
tagged: www.tagged.com/vermon |
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| mermaid23 |
Posted on April 04 2007 07:59 PM
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Location: Vancouver, BC
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I totally use finger counting! Although I find I need to finger count more than once to make sure I have the correct answer, because I still mess it up sometimes |
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| Toe_Nail |
Posted on April 06 2007 02:59 AM
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Thanks for the link. It looks a lot like the Soroban techniques you described elsewhere, although what I find confusing is that the right hand thumb (5) is on the inside when both hands are held in front of you and that the left hand thumb (50) is also on the inside It would make more sense to me is the left thumb would be located on the exterior (right side) side of the left hand (if that makes any sense?) but then it may just be a matter of getting used to. |
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| eoffg |
Posted on April 06 2007 05:13 AM
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Yes, it is based on the Soroban.
Also, you could turn that hand over.
Geoff, |
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| Toe_Nail |
Posted on April 06 2007 03:15 PM
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eoffg wrote:
...Also, you could turn that hand over.
Duh!! (now i really feel stupid) |
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| eoffg |
Posted on April 07 2007 07:42 AM
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Though more importantly, it raises a question about Finger Counting, as being a valid way of counting.
Where it is generally considered as inferior and discouraged?
Yet maths is all about getting the correct answer, not the way that you got the correct answer?
If it was really taken seriously, it could in fact, turn out to be a more accurate way of doing Mental Maths?
A question I would raise, is whether people who are Finger Counters, need to 'look at their hands, when counting'?
Whether they can do it, without looking?
Though related to this, is whether finger counting can be done, without actually moving the fingers? Which NASA research into physical exercise for astronauts. Suggests would be possible.
Where they identified that that 'imagining' a physical activity, activates the same neural pathways to the relevant muscles, as when we actually do the physical activity.
So basically, you could imagine moving the fingers, to do finger counting. Instead of actually moving them?
Finger Counters United, versus Visual-Spatial Counters?
Geoff, |
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| Anastasia |
Posted on April 07 2007 09:20 AM
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Location: Australia
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Well if finger counting is not acceptable then this family has all failed the test.  the younger daughter uses it at school as does the older daughter. adult son uses it occasionally and both parents do too and most of us don't have dyscalcia.
As for schools some try and get students to use the ruler instead of fingers and hubby said when he was at school he used to draw lines on th paper and add up that way.
Anastasia |
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| Toe_Nail |
Posted on April 07 2007 01:09 PM
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-------------------- deleted ------------------
Edited by Toe_Nail on October 28 2008 05:17 PM |
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| dawn |
Posted on May 10 2007 06:49 PM
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Location: england
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the method means that you break things up into multiple stages for multiplication eg the example is 7x 12= (7x2)+(7X10) , Now,won't most dyscalculics especially ones with working memory problems, find this too difficult and circuitous. It means working out the decomposition and then functioning it on your fingers and then you have to work out that the thumb means 5 and so there is an addition to do on the way as well.
Even the addition of 9 involved working it from 10-1. So you have to be confident in number bonds.
This is good in that it shows another method and it seems that dyscalculics find weird ways of reaching the answer often by convoluted methods and lateral thinking . But I can see that for some ,this technique would be mystifying. |
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| eoffg |
Posted on May 11 2007 05:48 AM
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Hi Dawn,
I agree that it seems to be rather difficult for multiplication.
Though I see its main value in doing addition and subtraction.
Also in developing a Sense of Number. As numbers are associated with a physical quantity. With the left hand fingers representing units of 10, it physically represents the 'carrying of numbers'.
Possibly when one has learnt to do addition and subtraction automatically, using this method. Then it would be easier to do multiplication and division? Yet I noticed that he is revising the multiplication method.
Geoff, |
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| Alunasa |
Posted on June 25 2007 04:12 PM
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Location: Florida, US
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Quick question, does anyone else have problems doing regular finger counting? I find that I mess up a lot when I do it. So I end up having to count three or four times just to make sure I'm coming up with the same answer each time. Its frustrating... |
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| dreamingofasong |
Posted on June 25 2007 04:46 PM
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Thanks Geoff!!! I'm going to use it when I need to count 
--dreamingofasong*
~*~
"This math has too many numbers in it"
--the family circus |
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| Laura |
Posted on June 25 2007 06:53 PM
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Location: Scotland
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Alunasa ye i tend to count really quick on my fingers and then have to re-count very very slowley as i have either added or missed out numbers
BEEN THERE DONE THAT, GOT THE T-SHIRT |
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| eoffg |
Posted on June 26 2007 09:12 AM
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But then for people that use the common Visual-Spatial way of counting, they also have the same doubt about whether they missed out a number.
Also, nearly everyone that uses a calculator, wonders whether they entered the right numbers?
At least with fingers you can see them!
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| Rac |
Posted on October 16 2007 12:32 AM
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Location: Manchester, England
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I find I can count best when I have a physical example to count with, as I can't understand what the number actually represents.
I'd always rather count with my fingers, but I end up trying to do it under the table or something because other people think I'm stupid.
I have recently found that if I want to count on by 3, 4 or 5, I can imagine a triangle, square or pentagram, and just count the corners!
Why don't we all just carry an abacus around instead! Or at least, some different coloured beads on a string! |
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| Kathy |
Posted on October 16 2007 02:02 AM
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Location: Bribie Island Queensland Australia
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Wow Geoff,
Wish I had this technique in primary school!!, I still remember Fred the board ruler smacking my fingers when I counted. So I would do "secret" finger counting. With my left hand on the desk spread out - I would count by secrectly pressing each pad of my finger into the desk. (I know pathetic isn't it! - but it worked!)
Cheers
kathy
Albert Einstein said: "Many of the things you can count, don't count. Many of the things you can't count, really count!." |
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| hedgerose |
Posted on February 08 2008 03:12 PM
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I actually taught maths by this method... to a class of 9 year olds, standing with my back to them so they couldn't see what I was doing! Sometimes I made it to the answer before them, but often they beat me to it. I'd then ask "Hands up who got the same answer" and if enough did, it was deemed to be right. I don't think they, or the headmistress ever tumbled me. It was nerve-wracking though! |
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| cruachan |
Posted on May 04 2008 12:52 PM
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Location: Hungary
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Lol, weird technique, but seems promising. Though I'm slow with finger counting no matter which method I apply. But that's the only way I can approximate if my money will be enough when I do shopping... and with my one-way concentration ability it results in much sweating and slowness *sigh*
If only I had a calculator which reads the prices on its own!
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aut viam inveniam aut faciam
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