12
Lectures
30
minutes/lecture
1.
Math in Your Head!
Dive right into the joys of mental math. First, learn the fundamental strategies of mental arithmetic (including the value of adding from left to right, unlike what you do on paper). Then, discover how a variety of shortcuts hold the keys to rapidly solving basic multiplication problems and finding squares.
1.
Math in Your Head!
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7.
Intermediate Multiplication
Take mental multiplication to an even higher level. Professor Benjamin shows you five methods for accurately multiplying any two-digit numbers. Among these: the squaring method (when both numbers are equal), the "close together" method (when both numbers are near each other), and the subtraction method (when one number ends in 6, 7, 8, or 9).
7.
Intermediate Multiplication
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2.
Mental Addition and Subtraction
Professor Benjamin demonstrates how easily you can mentally add and subtract one-, two-, and three-digit numbers. He also shows you shortcuts using the complement of a number (its distance from 100 or 1000) and demonstrates the uses of mental addition and subtraction for quickly counting calories and making change.
2.
Mental Addition and Subtraction
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8.
The Speed of Vedic Division
Vedic mathematics, which has been around for centuries, is extremely helpful for solving division problems—much more efficiently than the methods you learned in school. Learn how Vedic division works for dividing numbers of any length by any two-digit numbers.
8.
The Speed of Vedic Division
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3.
Go Forth and Multiply
Delve into the secrets of easy mental multiplication—Professor Benjamin's favorite mathematical operation. Once you've mastered how to quickly multiply any two-digit or three-digit number by a one-digit number, you've mastered the most fundamental operations of mental multiplication and added a vital tool to your mental math tool kit.
3.
Go Forth and Multiply
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9.
Memorizing Numbers
Think that memorizing long numbers sounds impossible? Think again. Investigate a fun—and effective—way to memorize numbers using a phonetic code in which every digit is given a consonant sound. Then practice your knowledge by trying to memorize the first 24 digits of pi, all of your credit card numbers, and more.
9.
Memorizing Numbers
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4.
Divide and Conquer
Turn now to the last fundamental operation of arithmetic: division. Explore a variety of shortcuts for dividing by one- and two-digit numbers; learn how to convert fractions such as 1/7 and 3/16 into decimals; and discover methods for determining when a large number is divisible by numbers such as 3, 7, and 11.
4.
Divide and Conquer
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10.
Calendar Calculating
The fun continues in this lecture with determining the day of the week of any date in the past or in the future. What day of the week was July 4, 2000? How about February 12, 1809? You'd be surprised at how easy it is for you to grasp the simple mathematics behind this handy skill.
10.
Calendar Calculating
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5.
The Art of Guesstimation
In most real-world situations—such as figuring out sales tax or how much to tip—you don't need an exact answer but just a reasonable approximation. Here, develop skills for effectively estimating addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and square roots.
5.
The Art of Guesstimation
|
11.
Advanced Multiplication
Professor Benjamin shows you how to do enormous multiplication problems in your head, such as squaring three-digit and four-digit numbers; cubing two-digit numbers, and multiplying two-digit and three-digit numbers. While you may not frequently encounter these large problems, knowing how to mentally solve them cements your knowledge of basic mental math skills.
11.
Advanced Multiplication
|
6.
Mental Math and Paper
Sometimes we encounter math problems on paper in our daily lives. Even so, there are some rarely taught techniques to help speed up your calculations and check your answers when you are adding tall columns of numbers, multiplying numbers of any length, and more.
6.
Mental Math and Paper
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12.
Masters of Mental Math
Professor Benjamin concludes his exciting course by showing how you can use different methods to solve the same problem; how you can find the cube root of large perfect cubes; how you can use the techniques you've learned and mastered in the last 11 lectures; and more.
12.
Masters of Mental Math
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24
Lectures
30
minutes/lecture
1.
Addition and Subtraction
This introductory lecture starts with Professor Sellers’ overview of the general topics and themes you’ll encounter throughout the course. Then, plunge into an engaging review of the addition and subtraction of whole numbers, complete with several helpful tips designed to help you approach these types of problems with more confidence.
1.
Addition and Subtraction
|
13.
Exponents and Order of Operations
Explore a fifth fundamental mathematical operation: exponentiation. First, take a step-by-step look at the order of operations for handling longer calculations that involve multiple tasks—complete with invaluable tips to help you handle them with ease. Then, see where exponentiation fits in this larger process.
13.
Exponents and Order of Operations
|
2.
Multiplication
Continue your quick review of basic mathematical operations, this time with a focus on the multiplication of whole numbers. In addition to uncovering the relationship between addition and multiplication, you’ll get plenty of opportunities to strengthen your ability to multiply two 2-digit numbers, two 3-digit numbers, and more.
2.
Multiplication
|
14.
Negative and Positive Integers
Improve your confidence in dealing with negative numbers. You’ll learn to use the number line to help visualize these numbers; discover how to rewrite subtraction problems involving negative numbers as addition problems to make them easier; examine the rules involved in multiplying and dividing with them; and much more.
14.
Negative and Positive Integers
|
3.
Long Division
Turn now to the opposite of multiplication: division. Learn how to properly set up a long division problem, how to check your answers to make sure they’re correct, how to handle zeroes when they appear in a problem, and what to do when a long division problem ends with a remainder.
3.
Long Division
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15.
Introduction to Square Roots
In this lecture, finally make sense of square roots. Professor Sellers offers examples to help you sidestep issues many students express frustration with, shows you how to simplify radical expressions involving addition and subtraction, and reveals how to find the approximate value of a square root without using a calculator.
15.
Introduction to Square Roots
|
4.
Introduction to Fractions
Mathematics is also filled with “parts” of whole numbers, or fractions. In the first of several lectures on fractions, define key terms and focus on powerful techniques for determining if fractions are equivalent, finding out which of two fractions is larger, and reducing fractions to their lowest terms.
4.
Introduction to Fractions
|
16.
Negative and Fractional Powers
What happens when you have to raise numbers to a fraction of a power? How about when you have to deal with negative exponents? Or negative fractional exponents? No need to worry —Professor Sellers guides you through this tricky mathematical territory, arming you with invaluable techniques for approaching these scenarios.
16.
Negative and Fractional Powers
|
5.
Adding and Subtracting Fractions
Fractions with the same denominator. Fractions with different denominators. Mixed numbers. Here, learn ways to add and subtract them all (and sometimes even in the same problem) and get tips for reducing your answers to their lowest terms. Math with fractions, you’ll discover, doesn’t have to be intimidating—it can even be fun!
5.
Adding and Subtracting Fractions
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17.
Graphing in the Coordinate Plane
Grab some graph paper and learn how to graph objects in the coordinate (or xy) plane. You’ll find out how to plot points, how to determine which quadrant they go in, how to sketch the graph of a line, how to determine a line’s slope, and more.
17.
Graphing in the Coordinate Plane
|
6.
Multiplying Fractions
Continue having fun with fractions, this time by mastering how to multiply them and reduce your answer to its lowest term. Professor Sellers shows you how to approach and solve multiplication problems involving fractions (with both similar and different denominators), fractions and whole numbers, and fractions and mixed numbers.
6.
Multiplying Fractions
|
18.
Geometry—Triangles and Quadrilaterals
Continue exploring the visual side of mathematics with this look at the basics of two-dimensional geometry. Among the topics you’ll focus on here are the various types of triangles (including scalene and obtuse triangles) and quadrilaterals (such as rectangles and squares), as well as methods for measuring angles, area, and perimeter.
18.
Geometry—Triangles and Quadrilaterals
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7.
Dividing Fractions
Professor Sellers walks you step-by-step through the process for speedily solving division problems involving fractions in this lecture filled with helpful practice problems. You’ll also learn how to better handle calculations involving different notations, fractions, and whole numbers, and even word problems involving the division of fractions.
7.
Dividing Fractions
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19.
Geometry—Polygons and Circles
Gain a greater appreciation for the interaction between arithmetic and geometry. First, learn how to recognize and approach large polygons, including hexagons and decagons. Then, explore the various concepts behind circles (such as radius, diameter, and the always intriguing pi), as well as methods for calculating their circumference, area, and perimeter.
19.
Geometry—Polygons and Circles
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8.
Adding and Subtracting Decimals
What’s 29.42 + 84.67? Or 643 + 82.987? What about 25.7 – 10.483? Problems like these are the focus of this helpful lecture on adding and subtracting decimals. One tip for making these sorts of calculations easier: making sure your decimal points are all lined up vertically.
8.
Adding and Subtracting Decimals
|
20.
Number Theory—Prime Numbers and Divisors
Shift gears and demystify number theory, which takes as its focus the study of the properties of whole numbers. Concepts that Professor Sellers discusses and teaches you how to engage with in this insightful lecture include divisors, prime numbers, prime factorizations, greatest common divisors, and factor trees.
20.
Number Theory—Prime Numbers and Divisors
|
9.
Multiplying and Dividing Decimals
Investigate the best ways to multiply and divide decimal numbers. You’ll get insights into when and when not to ignore the decimal point in your calculations, how to check your answer to ensure that your result has the correct number of decimal places, and how to express remainders in decimals.
9.
Multiplying and Dividing Decimals
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21.
Number Theory—Divisibility Tricks
In this second lecture on the world of number theory, take a closer look at the relationships between even and odd numbers, as well as the rules of divisibility for particular numbers. By the end, you’ll be surprised that something as intimidating as number theory could be made so accessible.
21.
Number Theory—Divisibility Tricks
|
10.
Fractions, Decimals, and Percents
Take a closer look at converting between percents, decimals, and fractions—an area of basic mathematics that many people have a hard time with. After learning the techniques in this lecture and using them on numerous practice problems, you’ll be surprised at how easy this type of conversion is to master.
10.
Fractions, Decimals, and Percents
|
22.
Introduction to Statistics
Get a solid introduction to statistics, one of the most useful areas of mathematics. Here, you’ll focus on the four basic “measurements” statisticians use when gleaning meaning from data: mean, media, mode, and range. Also, see these concepts at work in everyday scenarios in which statistics plays a key role.
22.
Introduction to Statistics
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11.
Percent Problems
Use the skills you developed in the last lecture to better approach and solve different kinds of percentage problems you’d most likely encounter in your everyday life. Among these everyday scenarios: calculating the tip at a restaurant and determining how much money you’re saving on a store’s discount.
11.
Percent Problems
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23.
Introduction to Probability
Learn more about probability, a cousin of statistics and another mathematical field that helps us make sense of the seemingly unexplainable nature of the world. You’ll consider basic questions and concepts from probability, drawing on the knowledge and skills of the fundamentals of mathematics you acquired in earlier lectures.
23.
Introduction to Probability
|
12.
Ratios and Proportions
How do ratios and proportions work? How can you figure out if a particular problem is merely just a ratio or proportion problem in disguise? What are some pitfalls to watch out for? And how can a better understanding of these subjects help save you money? Find out here.
12.
Ratios and Proportions
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24.
Introduction to Algebra
Professor Sellers reviews the importance of math in daily life and previews the next logical step in your studies: Algebra I (which involves variables). Whether you’re planning to take more Great Courses in mathematics or simply looking to sharpen your mind, you’ll be sent off with new levels of confidence.
24.
Introduction to Algebra
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