This article presents an alternative to the traditional method of multiplying polynomials, FOIL. The method can be used with any size of polynomial.

The purpose of the present research is to compare the effects of a Direct Instruction flashcard procedure on the mastery of multiplication facts by two high school students with attention deficit hyper-activity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). Both students were enrolled in a separate high school for students with behavior…

The present study contrasts mathematical knowledge that two sixth-grade teachers apparently used when teaching fraction multiplication with the Connected Mathematics Project materials. The analysis concentrated on those tasks from the materials that use drawings to represent fractions as length or area quantities. Examining the two teachers'…

Dividing by zero can be confusing for students at all levels. If teachers are to provide clear and understandable explanations of this topic, they must possess a strong conceptual understanding of it themselves. In this article, the authors present qualitative data on fourth- through eighth-grade teachers' perceptions of division by zero. They…

In this article, the author describes her attempt to develop more interactive mental mathematics sessions. She observed that her students perceive the multiplication tables as a series of facts which are either known or not known, not as tools which could be used to derive other facts in a flexible manner. She therefore undertook the task of…

It is not often that one can introduce primary school students to a problem at the forefront of mathematics research, and have any expectation of understanding; but with magic squares, one can do exactly that. Magic squares are an ideal tool for the effective illustration of many mathematical concepts. This paper assumes little prior knowledge on…

Structured multisensory drills and activities used to teach the multiplication tables to a hyperactive boy are described. (CL)

Tabulation of addition and multiplication fact frequencies in arithmetic texts for grades one through six showed that large facts, with operands larger than five, occurred only half as frequently as those with operands in the two-to-five range. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. (MKR)

Background: Understanding arithmetical principles is a key part of a conceptual understanding of mathematics. However, very little attention has been paid to children's understanding of multiplicative, as compared to additive, principles. Aims: This study investigated (a) children's ability to use commutative and distributive cues to solve…

In this article, the author presents an innovative approach to teaching multiplication facts for children in middle school or younger. After introducing the dangers of some contradictions that persist, relating a brief summary of related research and guidelines regarding math facts and their relation to strategic approaches to more complex math,…

This study investigated the development of children's knowledge of many-to-one counting. Four-year-olds ("n" = 51) either participated in a training or in a control group. The training taught children how to allot "Y" physically not present items to each of "X" objects and how to count these items in the process. It…

Two procedures significantly improved multiplication skills in six students (nine to 12 years old) with learning disabilities. The procedures were writing out multiplication problems and saying problems aloud while working. (CL)

Describes strategies for teaching elementary students to solve a multiplication problem using the lattice method. (JOW)