Knowing your times tables. From front to back and from back to the
front. As a child I loved times tables. I just enjoyed them so much,
and would learn them daily that even today, many years later I don't
even have to think, they are so embedded in my long term memory that
whenever I need them, they are ready to be used.
I think that this is the one part of math that I have used the most
in my life.
Calendars
Whether you need to work out the days of the week, the weeks in a
month or the months in a year. You will multiply. It comes so easy
and naturally that you don't even realize you are doing it and using
it.
Memorization
We memorize daily, but do you realize that your brain is like a computer.
Whatever you put into it, will most probably remain there for a long
period of time. You can choose to fill it with unimportant things,
or you can fill it with skills that can be a benefit to you your entire
life. Like multiplication. You will use this skill for as long as
you live. Using and teaching your brain to memorize is probably the
most important skill of all.
Car repair
Have you ever assisted in repaired a car? Well, you definitely need
to be able to multiply when you overhaul the engine, measure the pistons
or just need to put in a new gearbox or engine.
Building block
By learning multiplication and memorizing the times tables you provide
yourself with essential building blocks to do higher learning math,
like division, fractions and even algebra.
Career choices
You need to be able to multiply when you are in an academic career
or perhaps you want to become a chef. Well, world class chefs definitely
need to use multiplication as a skill. How else will they produce
divine pastries and mouth watering dishes?
Traveling
Traveling all over the world can be fun, and perhaps that is your
desire. To make a career choice that will allow you to travel from
one place to another. Well, even then you need multiplication skills.
You need to work out estimated arrival times, make calculations when
it comes to money exchange and even calculate your distance.
Stress saver
When you are able to multiply you can save yourself a lot of stress
and take a huge load of your shoulders. Can you imagine every time
you need to work out something, that you need to run to someone else
to help you. This will be disastrous and will make your life a ball
of stress. Rolling with a never ending circle.
Show business
Have you ever thought about becoming a Broadway star, or what about
Hollywood. Maybe you want to become a movie star. Even in acting you
need to multiply and use your basic math skills. When you work on
a set you need to make quick decisions and that definitely requires
multiplication.
Stock market
Some of you are very brave, and like a challenge like the stock market.
If this is your desire for a career, multiplication needs to be like
breathing to you. You need to multiply in your sleep. It needs to
be something that comes naturally to you.
Photography
When doing photography, you need math, and you need to multiply.
We're talking about angles, depth, perspective, resizing, distance
and the list just continues. How will you be able to do all of that
without multiplication skills?