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ヤモリの読んでも得にならないコラム
Philippine Folklore
First, open both hands with palms facing you. Are your thumbs on top? Assign all your fingers from the little fingers to the thumbs with numbers 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 respectively. For easier understanding, write the numbers on your fingers with a ballpen. A good kid consults his parents about this before trying to do it. Alright?
Match the multiplicand and the multiplier (These expressions are difficult to understand since the first time I have encountered them.) fingers. For instance, if “8 x 8”, the middle finger holds the number 8 so match the two middle fingers (left photo). At this point, each of the matched fingers and the fingers below them is equivalent to 10 . From now on, let us call these fingers as the lower part. On the other hand, let us call the fingers above the matched fingers as the upper part. In the example above, the lower part has 6 fingers, which is equivalent to 60. Is it wrong? No. You should also include the matched fingers. Please be careful with that.
Think about the upper part and the lower part separately. As for the upper part, both the left and right hands have 2 fingers each, right? Multiply the two numbers. Since each hand has 2 fingers, “2 x 2 = 4”. This is the value for the upper part. Add the lower part value and the upper part value. “60 + 4 = 64”. The answer is just equivalent to “Happarokujuushi”, right?
And how about the other numbers? Well, let us try another one. Try “7 x 6”.
Are you matching the right fingers? For the left hand, it would be the ring finger and for the right hand, the little finger. Matching these two fingers the lower part would have 3 fingers, which is equal to 30. On the other hand, the upper part would have 3 fingers for the left hand and 4 fingers for the right hand. Therefore, “3 x 4 = 12”. Look! 30 + 12 = 7 x 6 = 42.
“My kid’s Math teacher is sometimes seen matching her fingers while facing the blackboard during their lesson on multiplication!! So this is what she was doing.”
… Yes, certainly.
To all the good kids reading this article, do not be impressed with the fact that “you only have to memorize until 5x of the multiplication table” but be impressed with the fact that “there is a wonderful rhythmical method in Japan’s multiplication table but you don’t have to bother yourself anymore mastering this method”. If you have misunderstood whatever is written here, your mothers will scold you and tell you “You are not allowed to read FreeInfo anymore”. So please be careful.
P.S.: They say that 2 x 2 = 4 is also read as “two two four” or “two twos are four” in English.
The multiplication table in the Philippines is up to “5x”!?
I think Japanese system(?) of multiplication table is brilliant. It is widely used in the world but there is no language that can memorize until 9 x 9 = 81 rhythmically. Without any restraint, let me name you the “multiplication table culture being showed in the world”.
I asked Cebu Samurai about the multiplication table in the Philippines. According to him, they also let the students memorize up to 9 x 9 = 81. It seems that it is not still rhythmical even if you memorize up to 9 x 9 = 81.
For example, it is learned at school that “Sazangaku” is“three times three equals nine”but memorizing until 9 x 9 is surely difficult. But my child who I think is English language handicapped has good grades in Math. Hoh ho ho ho ho. I think there are lots of Japanese living in Cebu who can relate to this.
In connection with this, Cebu Samurai went to Japan to study Physics at Hokkaido University at government expense. He also acquired a doctoral degree after. He is just a man of science. However, during his elementary years, he was able to memorize only until 5x of the multiplication table. He said “We only needed to memorize until 5x of the multiplication table in the Philippines”. If you have mastered up to 5x, 6x to 9x can be learned using a technique not everyone knows.
You might be wondering what that technique is. Do I still have a choice? Alright. I am going to introduce to you now the secret technique.
I asked Cebu Samurai about the multiplication table in the Philippines. According to him, they also let the students memorize up to 9 x 9 = 81. It seems that it is not still rhythmical even if you memorize up to 9 x 9 = 81.
For example, it is learned at school that “Sazangaku” is“three times three equals nine”but memorizing until 9 x 9 is surely difficult. But my child who I think is English language handicapped has good grades in Math. Hoh ho ho ho ho. I think there are lots of Japanese living in Cebu who can relate to this.
In connection with this, Cebu Samurai went to Japan to study Physics at Hokkaido University at government expense. He also acquired a doctoral degree after. He is just a man of science. However, during his elementary years, he was able to memorize only until 5x of the multiplication table. He said “We only needed to memorize until 5x of the multiplication table in the Philippines”. If you have mastered up to 5x, 6x to 9x can be learned using a technique not everyone knows.
You might be wondering what that technique is. Do I still have a choice? Alright. I am going to introduce to you now the secret technique.
First, open both hands with palms facing you. Are your thumbs on top? Assign all your fingers from the little fingers to the thumbs with numbers 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 respectively. For easier understanding, write the numbers on your fingers with a ballpen. A good kid consults his parents about this before trying to do it. Alright?
Match the multiplicand and the multiplier (These expressions are difficult to understand since the first time I have encountered them.) fingers. For instance, if “8 x 8”, the middle finger holds the number 8 so match the two middle fingers (left photo). At this point, each of the matched fingers and the fingers below them is equivalent to 10 . From now on, let us call these fingers as the lower part. On the other hand, let us call the fingers above the matched fingers as the upper part. In the example above, the lower part has 6 fingers, which is equivalent to 60. Is it wrong? No. You should also include the matched fingers. Please be careful with that.
Think about the upper part and the lower part separately. As for the upper part, both the left and right hands have 2 fingers each, right? Multiply the two numbers. Since each hand has 2 fingers, “2 x 2 = 4”. This is the value for the upper part. Add the lower part value and the upper part value. “60 + 4 = 64”. The answer is just equivalent to “Happarokujuushi”, right?
And how about the other numbers? Well, let us try another one. Try “7 x 6”.
Are you matching the right fingers? For the left hand, it would be the ring finger and for the right hand, the little finger. Matching these two fingers the lower part would have 3 fingers, which is equal to 30. On the other hand, the upper part would have 3 fingers for the left hand and 4 fingers for the right hand. Therefore, “3 x 4 = 12”. Look! 30 + 12 = 7 x 6 = 42.
“My kid’s Math teacher is sometimes seen matching her fingers while facing the blackboard during their lesson on multiplication!! So this is what she was doing.”
… Yes, certainly.
To all the good kids reading this article, do not be impressed with the fact that “you only have to memorize until 5x of the multiplication table” but be impressed with the fact that “there is a wonderful rhythmical method in Japan’s multiplication table but you don’t have to bother yourself anymore mastering this method”. If you have misunderstood whatever is written here, your mothers will scold you and tell you “You are not allowed to read FreeInfo anymore”. So please be careful.
P.S.: They say that 2 x 2 = 4 is also read as “two two four” or “two twos are four” in English.
From May 2008 issue
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