Comments on: A Quirky Introduction To Number Systems http://betterexplained.com/articles/a-quirky-introduction-to-number-systems/ Learning shouldn't hurt. Let's share the insights that made difficult ideas click. Sat, 7 Nov 2009 23:27:48 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Kalid http://betterexplained.com/articles/a-quirky-introduction-to-number-systems/#comment-252351 Kalid Sat, 12 Sep 2009 01:18:35 +0000 http://betterexplained.com/articles/a-quirky-introduction-to-number-systems/#comment-252351 @Mack: Thanks for writing -- for these types of problems, what helps me is to have a mental model of what's going on (some type of analogy or intuitive understanding). Once I have that, I can start playing with that model to figure out what will happen in the problem. It's difficult to describe because it's different for everyone, but for the inequality / data sufficiency examples, I might think about a number line (going left to right) and as each new equation comes along, it "shades out" different parts of the line. I think everyone has some type of model happening in their head, but it can be hard to recognize/talk about because it's so innate. @Mack: Thanks for writing — for these types of problems, what helps me is to have a mental model of what’s going on (some type of analogy or intuitive understanding). Once I have that, I can start playing with that model to figure out what will happen in the problem.

It’s difficult to describe because it’s different for everyone, but for the inequality / data sufficiency examples, I might think about a number line (going left to right) and as each new equation comes along, it “shades out” different parts of the line. I think everyone has some type of model happening in their head, but it can be hard to recognize/talk about because it’s so innate.

]]> By: Mack http://betterexplained.com/articles/a-quirky-introduction-to-number-systems/#comment-252344 Mack Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:14:13 +0000 http://betterexplained.com/articles/a-quirky-introduction-to-number-systems/#comment-252344 I learn by memorizing. I've always had a great memory. This allowed me to learn to read early as I remembered the sound of the words. Eventually I could discern what word should sound like based on what I already know.... I will be taking the GMAT for applications to business school that in January and I'm trying to find a way to solve the problem that irecognize I have which is that my mind finds it difficult to keep the relationships of mathmaticvariables straight in my mind. I constantly jumble it in my mind. I find it difficult to solve problems that are worded slightly differently fromthe ones I've done before. Data sufficiency questions involving inequalities with variables baffle me cause there are too many factors to consider. I have to think about whether x and y could be positive or negative, fraction or integer and where one relationship would yield one result and another relationship would yield another result, I find it hard to keep all that information straight. I start getting confused and losing track of the relationships. I'm great when it's memorization but ask me to think and I get confused. I assume it's because I don't fully understand relationships and patterns but I don't know how to start to see these patterns of which you speak on your post. I learn by memorizing. I’ve always had a great memory. This allowed me to learn to read early as I remembered the sound of the words. Eventually I could discern what word should sound like based on what I already know…. I will be taking the GMAT for applications to business school that in January and I’m trying to find a way to solve the problem that irecognize I have which is that my mind finds it difficult to keep the relationships of mathmaticvariables straight in my mind. I constantly jumble it in my mind. I find it difficult to solve problems that are worded slightly differently fromthe ones I’ve done before. Data sufficiency questions involving inequalities with variables baffle me cause there are too many factors to consider. I have to think about whether x and y could be positive or negative, fraction or integer and where one relationship would yield one result and another relationship would yield another result, I find it hard to keep all that information straight. I start getting confused and losing track of the relationships. I’m great when it’s memorization but ask me to think and I get confused. I assume it’s because I don’t fully understand relationships and patterns but I don’t know how to start to see these patterns of which you speak on your post.

]]> By: Better Explained « Xavier Seton’s Blog http://betterexplained.com/articles/a-quirky-introduction-to-number-systems/#comment-239468 Better Explained « Xavier Seton’s Blog Thu, 07 May 2009 07:33:04 +0000 http://betterexplained.com/articles/a-quirky-introduction-to-number-systems/#comment-239468 [...] Numbers: number systems, visual arithmetic, different bases, Prime numbers [...] [...] Numbers: number systems, visual arithmetic, different bases, Prime numbers [...]

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