I was grilling the kids (not literally!) on their multiplication (one was having some trouble). Alex, the youngest, was off in another room and popping out the answers that I was trying to get the next oldest to give. I was talking about how important it is to be able to do multiplication quickly because, in future math, the multiplication will be assumed as standard knowledge and - if not done quickly (as in "nearly instantaneously") - will significantly affect the amount of time it takes to complete each problem (and, in turn, the entire homework assignment).
Don't remember exactly how we got there, but Alex came in to answer some "tough problems." Lydia, the oldest, was trying to defend herself on a tough problem I'd just given by asking Alex, "Ok, what's 29 times 5?"
Two seconds later (maybe less) he answered, "145." (The boy is 10.)
Most of the table was stunned and amazed (there you go, Dean, using the word in perhaps less-than-amazing context...?); I was super-proud. Just thought I'd share.
Later...
4 comments:
Genius... he knows the subtraction method of multiplication without being taught :)
You knew he was a Moore, right?? ;)
Heh, that's what I thought: 30 * 5 - 5. But that's not what he did. He did 20 * 5 + 9 * 5.
And he did that in 2 seconds (or less).
It was pretty impressive. You could just picture the wheels turning at lightening speed. He does love math... as long as it is what he wants to do at the moment. :o)
Smart boy. It must be from hanging out with Dawson so much. LOL!
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