Speed Mathematics Simplified (Dover Science Books) (Paperback)

by Edward Stoddard (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Entertaining, easy-to-follow suggestions for developing greater speed and accuracy in doing mathematical calculations. Surefire methods for multiplying without carrying, dividing with half the pencil work of long division, plus advice on how to add and subtract rapidly; how to check for accuracy, master fractions, work quickly with decimals, handle percentages and much more. A valuable how-to book for anyone working with numbers on a variety of levels.

Product Details

• Paperback: 284 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (February 22, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486278875
• ISBN-13: 978-0486278872
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #455,881 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the best speed math book i've yet found, March 4, 2004

By	S F Tiffin Expense (Oakville, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This book should be used to teach children mathematics in our schools. The concepts are simple and clearly described.
Unlike math i learned in grade school you only need to know addition up to 10 and the multiplication table to 9 times.
It is the first unified speed math concept book that teaches a fast way to do mental calculations without memorizing a multitude of various rules for specific mathematical situations.
After reading this, i have stopped searching for any further speed math books because i doubt any could compare.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shocking!, November 30, 2002

By	Scott M Jackson (Houston, Texas United States) - See all my reviews

To find out that everything you were taught in school about arithmetic was the slow dumb way to do it is a slap in the face. If you can handle that and are willing to have and open mind about it, this is the book for you. I have to say the methods are very different from what you learned, but it still builds apon the knowledge you already have about basic math. You must work at it though, simply reading will not help much. However if you follow the instructions you will exponentially increase your speed and without having to think about it as much as your use to. I am not much of a math person and I found the results very surprising. Buy it, period.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Consistent, structured approach, October 30, 2007

By	James D. Nickel - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Instead of providing a series of disjointed "speed techniques," Stoddard teaches a method of speed arithmetic that integrates the same principles throughout. In other words, the speed techniques you learn in addition will also be employed in subtraction, multiplication, and division. Stoddard's "no carry, no borrow" method is based upon the structure of the Japanese abacus called the Soroban along with making efficient use of the inherent ease of computing with 10. The methods Stoddard uses are historical and were first seen in print in the 12th century in a book about arithmetic written by the Indian mathematician and astronomer Bhaskara (1144-1185) entitled "Lilavati." The wonder and beauty of this method is its consistency (which is what mathematics is all about). Every arithmetic operation is approached the same way, a revolutionary (to some, that is) "left to right" procedure. One by-product of this consistency is that it lends itself to immediate estimates. Compare this ingenuity with the "hodge-podge" traditional way of teaching arithmetic and you will see marked productivity difference. I, as a math teacher, wish more students were taught this way. The simplicity of the methods, once mastered, generates an ease and accuracy of computation that is simply amazing to behold.