Which method were you taught? 🤔

In my head I did it the Japan way. It took seconds. I don't think I've ever seen it done any other way.

That’s the way we used to do it but schools for some reason, changed it to the more convoluted way

@Slygrinx You do the convoluted way if you have variables (algebra) and can't add so can't add them directly. Never do it with regular numbers...

@TheLucyShow1 Here is how I did it in my head. Always following PEDMAS. I did the parentheses first. 4+3 is 7. Power, 7x7. 49. It doesn't have to be any more complicated than that. More complicated equations might take a more complicated solution. I was just working with the one given.

So in grade school, my son, who is very good in math, used to do it all in his head, and the teacher used to give him bad grades because he didn’t show any work. And he would argue, why should I have to show work when it’s in my head? 🤣

The right one? And in America. Who is teaching the left one? Common core probably…

Exactly! Common core was an absolute joke

I never knew I was Japanese.

Now you know

Weird, I must have gone to school in Japan!

Okay ✅

The first method is so convoluted! Just...WHY!

Exactly! I think this is when they switched to something called common core in the US

No. Nobody was ever taught to do that in the USA. Not a single person. If the expression inside the parentheses included an unknown, like 4+x, then you MAY need to expand the exponent to solve, and that is the right way to do it. If it is just numbers, you use order of operations, which says to do what is in the parentheses first, then the exponent.

You have bad information. The so-called American method is actually the "FOIL" method. It is taught everywhere for algebraic calculations with unknowns. Since there are no unknowns, the FOIL method is unnecessary and more time consuming.

I did it the Japan way in my head in 2 seconds.

It’s intuitive

I've been called worse!!! 🤣 🤣 🤣

@TheLucyShow1 一般的な日本人なら 見ただけで解けるよ。 2秒はかかりすぎ。

@TheLucyShow1 I was being kind.

I can't believe some of the long tail methods were were taught in school. No wonder so many of us tuned out.

They made everything so convoluted, that a lot of kids tuned out for sure

Yep. I was taught they way on the left. The one on the right is so much quicker.

Pretty sure everyone in the US was taught that way in the olden days

You would only use FOIL if there were unknown variables.

You're just trying to start a fight, no one in the US does this for simple math. We just add what's in the parenthesis and square it. Do we need to play cowboys and Hiroshima again?

This is dumb and wrong. The first method (FOIL) is used when variables are present. Otherwise everyone uses the 2nd. 🙄

Left method is algebra meant for variables; right method is mental math meant for numbers

Now do (4 + x)²

Mi hijo hace el cálculo en su mente. En su escuela a veces tiene problemas porque las instrucciones dicen "según el método Singapur, resuelve esta operación" y le parece estúpido usar un método que no domina ni entiende si lo puede resolver en su mente mucho más rápido.

左ですね。通常はxなどの変数になっている。 そして右は出題されない。何の意味もないゴミな問題です。

Technically both methods but the one on the left only makes sense with variables in the equation (like "x").

@IndianaGPA As Boomers we were taught the Japanese method, but it wasn’t called that, it’s just how it was done at least where my wife and I went to school. The other must be the new math.🤦‍♂️

Common core did more damage than we will ever know - but will realize in the next 2 years. Homeschoolers will not have the challenges that public schoolers have. PS: That "Japan" method was the US method around 1979.

Sorry but FOIL is only used if letter assigned variables in equation. Otherwise BEDMAS is used. This is just more engagement farming bullshit.

Did it in my head teachers used to get upset because they wanted to see the work

Both obviously? The right one you use when there are no variables. and you just have to do first grade math. the left one you use when the 4 and the 3 are unknowns. (a+b)² = a² + 2ab + b²

Absolute retard shit. FOIL is always the method. When you have only constants, you can simply follow pemdas as a quick way for the FOIL method. The “Japan” method didn’t work when it contains variables. Garbage rage bait.

Well, The reason they teach that method is because if you're working with variables. For example (a+b)² gets expanded to a²+2ab+b². But, ultimately I agree. Since we're not working with variables. The "japan" method that's showcased is better.

No, we use the FOIL method when variables are involved. When it's just numbers, we look at it and say 7^2=49. Done. Math is fun. Don't make it harder than you need to. You'll scare people away, especially kids.

You only use foil if there is a variable in the equation so you can put it in the expanded form to use quadratic formula to find roots. Obviously if there is no variable u just use pemdas which says u do whats in the parenthesis first then exponent.

PEMDAS.. You did the USA part wrong.

Bad example. You’d do the “American way” only if there are variables in the equation. It’s called the FOIL method. Try to do (3+2x)^2 in the “Japanese way” and you get nowhere.

highly disingenuous.... now, do it with an unknown 'X' in place of one of the constants

I was taught to do this in my head. 7x7 = 49!

I was taught the Japanese method, in the 1960s, in St. Paul, MN.

The only one I know is the old school one.

Japanese!