Japanese Math

In the history of mathematics the development of wasan falls.

Japanese math. Japanese students are typically much more confident in mathematics than they are in english. You re right i m talking about an array. Japanese mathematics 和算 wasan denotes a distinct kind of mathematics which was developed in japan during the edo period 1603 1867. But look in a japanese elementary textbook and multiplication is done the same way as everywhere else.

However you never know when you ll need to do quick math and the japanese multiplication method also called multiply by lines can help you figure out the answer simply by counting. Like many other aspects of japanese math education alternate ways of solving problems are explored with good methods retained poor methods rejected and generalizations made. In order to understand how japanese multiplication works we must start back at the good old reliable method of organizing equal groups in rows and columns. Yes i know the problems are really easy but there is a little twist is i m going to give you today.

This amazing multiplication trick possible has it s origins in japan although i have heard arguements it is a vedic math trick. Today let s go through some basic math together. Very little is known about japanese mathematics before the 17th century. I m going to tell you how to read each of these equations in japanese.

For example the ten classics of mathematics was introduced along with counting rods probably by the 8th century. Here are the four basic mathematical operations 加減乗除 kagenjojo or かげんじょうじょう in japanese. When we say 3 times 2 that is the same as saying 3 groups of 2 and we can show these three groups as 3 rows and 2 columns or 3 columns and two rows. With times tables and carrying.

I was often invited to maths class and teachers would try to explain things in english much to the amusement of the students. The term wasan from wa japanese and san calculation was coined in the 1870s and employed to distinguish native japanese mathematical theory from western mathematics 洋算 yōsan. While my maths teachers back home despaired at me maths teachers in japan liked me for some reason.