74 - Nine Features of Vedic Mathematics

VEDIC MATHEMATICS NEWSLETTER

ISSUE No. 74

A warm welcome to our new subscribers.
Vedic Mathematics is becoming increasingly popular as more and more people are introduced to the beautifully unified and easy Vedic methods. The purpose of this Newsletter is to provide information about developments in education and research and books, articles, courses, talks etc., and also to bring together those working with Vedic Mathematics. If you are working with Vedic Mathematics - teaching it or doing research - please contact us and let us include you and some description of your work in the Newsletter. Perhaps you would like to submit an article for inclusion in a later issue or tell us about a course or talk you will be giving or have given. If you are learning Vedic Maths, let us know how you are getting on and what you think of this system.

This issue's article was written by the editor (Kenneth Williams) some years ago and has recently been added to the Introduction to Vedic Maths at www.vedicmaths.org. You are welcome to use this elsewhere if you wish, but please put a reference to its origins here or the website.

 

NINE FEATURES OF VEDIC MATHEMATICS

There are many features of the Vedic system which contrast significantly with conventional mathematics.

Coherence - Perhaps the most striking feature of the Vedic system is its coherence. Instead of a hotchpotch of unrelated techniques the whole system is beautifully interrelated and unified: the general multiplication method, for example, is easily reversed to allow one-line divisions and the simple squaring method can be reversed to give one-line square roots. And these are all easily understood. This unifying quality is very satisfying, it makes mathematics easy and enjoyable and encourages innovation.

Flexibility - In modern teaching you usually have one way of doing a calculation. This is rigid and boring and intelligent and creative students rebel against it. Once you allow variations you get all sorts of benefits. Children become more creative. The teacher is encouraging innovation and the children respond. In the Vedic system there are general methods, that always work, for example a method of multiplication that can be applied to any numbers. But the Vedic system has many special methods, when a calculation has some special characteristic that can be used to find the answer more easily. And it's great fun when you spot that method.
Having only one method of, say, multiplying is like a carpenter who uses a screwdriver for every job. The skilled craftsman selects the tool most appropriate for the job and gets it done quicker, better and with more satisfaction.
So there are special methods, that apply in special cases, and also general methods. You don't have to use these special methods but they are there if you want to.
Calculations can often be carried out from right to left or from left to right.
You can represent numbers in more than one way; we can work 2 or more figures at a time if we wish.

This flexibility adds to the fun and gives pupils the freedom to choose their own approach. This in turn leads to the development of creativity and intuition. The Vedic system does not insist on a purely analytic approach as many modern teaching methods do. This makes a big difference to the attitude which children have towards mathematics.
In this rapidly changing world adaptability and flexibility are absolutely essential for success. For the future we can expect more change and perhaps at a more rapid pace.

Mental, improves memory - The ease and simplicity of Vedic Mathematics means that calculations can be carried out mentally (though the methods can also be written down). There are many advantages in using a flexible, mental system.
Pupils can invent their own methods, they are not limited to the one 'correct' method. This leads to more creative, interested and intelligent pupils. It also leads to improved memory and greater mental agility.
Bear in mind also that mathematical objects are mental objects. In working directly with these objects as in mental maths you get closer to the objects and understand them and their properties and relationships much better. Of course there are times especially early on when physical activities are a great help to understanding.

Promotes creativity - All these features of Vedic math encourage students to be creative in doing their math. Being naturally creative students like to devise their own methods of solution. The Vedic system seeks to cultivate intuition, having a conscious proof or explanation of a method beforehand is not essential in the Vedic methodology. This appeals to the artistic types who prefer not to use analytical ways of thinking.

Appeals to everyone - The Vedic system appears to be effective over all ability ranges: the able child loves the choice and freedom to experiment and the less able may prefer to stick to the general methods but loves the simple patterns they can use. Artistic types love the opportunity to invent and have their own unique input, while the analytic types enjoy the challenge and scope of multiple methods.

Increases mental agility - Because the Vedic system uses these ultra-easy methods mental calculation is preferred and leads naturally to develop mental agility. And this in turn leads to growth in other subjects.

Efficient and fast - In the Vedic system 'difficult' problems or huge sums can often be solved immediately. These striking and beautiful methods are just a part of a complete system of mathematics which is far more systematic than the modern 'system'. Vedic Mathematics manifests the coherent and unified structure naturally inherent in mathematics and the methods are direct, easy and complementary.

Easy, fun - The experience of the joy of mathematics is an immediate and natural consequence of practising Vedic Mathematics. And this is the true nature of maths - not the rigid and boring 'system' that is currently widespread.

Methods apply in algebra - Another important feature of the Vedic system is that once an arithmetic method has been mastered the same method can be applied to algebraic cases of that type - the beautiful coherence between arithmetic and algebra is clearly manifest in the Vedic system.

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NEWS

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VEDIC MATHS TRAINING COURSE

e-gurukul.net was established as a free virtual educational platform and online campus to bring the treasures of scientific knowledge and wisdom of ancient India to the world utilising Internet technology.

We're pleased to report that Online Speed Maths Teachers Training Programme Graduation Event held on March 27 -2011 6 am IST was a thumping success. We would like to extend our Hearty Congratulations to all 16 participants from 13 cities across 4 countries, Canada, New Zealand, India and the United States for successfully participating in the 60 hrs Online Teachers Training Certification Programme in Speed Maths Techniques.

The mission of this Free online teachers training was to create skilled trainers worldwide who will be able to teach generations of students the science of Vedic Math - Fastest Calculation Method in the World.

VEDIC CALCULUS

Kevin Carmody in Fairfield, Iowa, USA, has developed an approach to calculus that is both simple and natural. It uses Vedic principles to allow direct calculations with zeros and infinities.. See http://kevincarmody.com/math/math.html and click on Numeristics.

THE VEDIC INVENTIVE PRINCIPLES

This is the title of an essay by Karthikeyan Iyer. It aims to show that the Vedic Sutras and sub-Sutras, or some of them, can be used as inventive principles or triggers that stimulate creativity. Iyer says some of the sutras do not to convey any meaning, and leaving those aside he combines the rest into 7 "directions of thought".
http://www.innovationtools.com/PDF/Vedic_Inventive_Principles.pdf

KUCHNAYA WEBSITE

http://maths.kuchnaya.com. Now ready
include our company's email as for any feedback.

ADVERTISING BLIMP

"The blueprint for a great math app would be something that combined all the key principles from Vedic Maths with the structure of Trachtenberg's System of Math. The current approach is to play up the 'mental math' aspect which is a pity. It's as if someone got gifted a rocket that can fly to the moon and he's using it as an advertising blimp.
The real point of it should be to replace how math is taught. Why not teach Trachtenberg Math and Vedic Math as the foundation? If we treat these two incredibly powerful approaches to mathematics as party tricks it misses the whole point."
http://ireaderreview.com/

ARITHMETIC BECOMES PODOMETIC

Johnathan Crabtree in Australia has restructured our number words in a more logical way and explains about negative numbers and their representations and combinations. This is a new way of teaching these things to young children.
See http://www.podo.in/ebook.pdf and please give your feedback at http://www.podo.in/help-me

VEDIC MATHS WORKSHOP AT ROURKELLA, INDIA

"World Academy for Vedic Mathematics" which is incorporated under "International Research and Resource Foundation for Indian Heritage" recently arranged a workshop on Vedic Mathematics in association with Mathematics Club of "National Institute of Technology", Rourkella. The same was conducted by Debmalya Banerjee
Prior to the workshop the expert along with Prof Swadhin Patnaik of "Institute of Mathematics and Research"; Bhubaneswar and Prof Snehashish Chakraverty; Faculty Advisor Mathematics Club inaugurated the second issue of the newsletter of the club "Vilokanam" to the participants.
The workshop was attended by around 120 students and the same were primarily from the student community. The workshop started from around 10:00 in the morning and continued till 12:00.The participants were exposed to the wonderful sutras of Nikhilam, Urdhava etc by the expert. Not only the same he also gave a brief background of the subject too.
The response of the crowd was absolutely fascinating. Lot of questions was asked as the workshop had interactive session too.
Certificate of Participation was given to all candidates on a joint basis by the Academy and the Mathematics Club.

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Your comments about this Newsletter are invited.
If you would like to send us details about your work or submit an article or details about a course/talk etc. for inclusion, please let us know on

Previous issues of this Newsletter can be copied from the Web Site: www.vedicmaths.org
Please pass a copy of this Newsletter on to anyone you think may be interested.

Editor: Kenneth Williams

Visit the Vedic Mathematics web site at: http://www.vedicmaths.org

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5th May 2011

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