Sunday, November 28, 2010

Math Fluency

According to the Merriam Webster’s Dictionary, to be fluent is “to be capable of moving with ease and grace, effortlessly smooth and flowing, and showing mastery of a subject or skill.”


What is math fluency?

Math fluency means knowing the right method to correctly solve a mathematical problem with ease and in a relatively short period of time. It is also being comfortable with different approaches to solving a giving problem. The more fluent a person becomes in math, the better and smoother he/she becomes in accurately applying mathematical concepts to real life situations. Reaching good fluency in math requires proper, meaningful and consistent practice. Knowing how to apply a formula to solve a math problem does not necessarily mean one is good in math. It takes much more than applying a math formula to be considered good.

Reasoning and understanding of concept
A student is considered fluent if he/she is able to:
  •  Explain the solution process step by step and explain the reason for each step.
  •  Explain the formula and know how the formula came about.
  •  Use alternate methods to solve a problem, if one exists.
Building Blocks
It is very important to completely understand the basic building blocks of math in order to achieve mastery of the subject. One should have mastered the concepts of adding, subtracting, multiplication and division before moving on to higher math levels.
If you are able to establish a link between the math operations and build on them as you advance, you should be able to master the subject with ease. 

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