Mathematics Problem Solving for Able and Gifted School Students
ECU Tables Tester
All primary and secondary students in the ECU Mathematics Problem Solving program are expected to have a high level mastery of the basic number facts, also referred to by many people as "the arithmetic tables". The ECU Tables Tester is designed to help students achieve this mastery.
The ECU Tables Tester can help students to achieve instant recall of the following basic number facts:
Addition:
From 0 + 0 to 10 + 10, e.g. 7 + 9 = 16
Subtraction:
From 0 - 0 to 20 - 10, e.g. 16 - 9 = 7
Multiplication:
From 1 x 1 to 10 x 10, e.g. 7 x 6 = 42
Division:
From 1 ÷ 1 to 100 ÷ 10, e.g. 42 ÷ 6 = 7
The ECU Tables Tester assumes that the user already has a good understanding of numbers, based on varied experiences with counters, blocks and other physical materials. It also assumes that the user knows about the base ten system, and what it means to add, subtract, multiply and divide.
The ECU Tables Tester should not be used by students who have no way of working out that, for example, 8 + 7 = 15
The ECU Tables Tester has two levels of difficult within it:
- Level 1 (Normal) provides practice with the range of number facts listed
above. There is a Demonstration Module linked to Level 1.
- Level 2 (Hard) is more difficult. It provides practice with the following range number facts:
Addition:
From 0 + 0 to 10 + 20, e.g. 7 + 19 = 26
Subtraction:
From 0 - 0 to 30 - 10, e.g. 26 - 7 = 19
Multiplication:
From 1 x 1 to 10 x 20, e.g. 7 x 16 = 112
Division:
From 1 ÷ 1 to 200 ÷ 10, e.g. 112 ÷ 7 = 16
Students should not attempt Level 2 unless they already have high levels of mastery at Level 1.
Level 1 has a related Demonstration Module. A Level 1 user who fails any question on three successive attempts is automatically referred to the Demonstration Module for help.
Reference: Nathan Hoffman, "The Teaching and Learning of Basic Number Facts", Educational Studies in Mathematics, 8 (1977), 391 - 398