Education is done differently from country to country. Even though some countries apply teaching methods or concepts pioneered by other countries, some key differences appear. And in the case of math, even though the differences are not so poignant, they are still there.
Any student who studies math in college and has colleagues that come from abroad knows that there are some differences. Of course, you cannot change the theorems in math, but you can choose to write the numbers in a different way.
So, if you study math and you are wondering how math education is done in various countries, you are in the right place. Here we will explore these differences between countries.
It is important to keep in mind that even though we are distinct, we can learn a lot from both the differences and similarities between nations.
Multiplication
How pupils are taught to multiply numbers is different from country to country. Of course, many methods make the multiplication of two-digits or three-digits way easier. But in India, there is a special method. It is a form of Vedic math that might make multiplication or large numbers way easier for students who are just learning basic math.
It depends also on the experience of the pupil with math concepts. And while some students might find this difficult, for others it is the easiest option. The final result is, however, the same if the multiplication was correct. Math calculus is something descriptive of this domain, so if you need calculus questions and answers, some professionals are always willing and open to shed more light on complex math concepts. If you are struggling with calculus or any other math topic, consider seeking the help of professionals who offer math tutoring services to help you master the concepts.
Writing Numbers
Well, there are probably some key differences between how US students write certain numbers and students from other countries. Take, for example, the number seven. US students write 7 without crossing it, while students in countries from Europe cross it. France is a good example. The same goes for other numbers such as 4 or 2. There are a few ways you can write these numbers and students usually do it how they were taught in their native country.
Expressing Numbers
Writing numbers might not have so many differences, but how you express those numbers is totally different from country to country. The difference resides in how you pronounce big numbers, such as years. For example, 80 can be read in one way in the English language. But in French, for example, you do some calculus and you end up saying that 80 is four twenty. Which is true and correct. But each country has a different way of doing math education, so it is clear that there are different methods.
Decimal Points vs Commas
This is one of the most obvious differences you notice when you go out of the US. Some countries use a decimal point instead of a comma. Some of them even have a different symbol for this. This might be misleading to students who are studying math in a foreign country, but it is a thing you will get used to.
Additional Words
We can use so many numbers to express the value or amount of something, but at some point, it might become difficult to pronounce it all. So, some countries have even numbers for expressing big numbers. For example, in India, there is a word for “one hundred thousand” or for “ten million”. Lakh is the for the first one and crore for the last one.
And if you would like to say you have 80 million dollars, you will say you have 8 crore. You might think about “million” and “billion” which are expressed differently in every country.
Final Thoughts
Education is done in other ways in every country. Every educational institution has the responsibility to adapt its teaching and information to the students of that country. Even though the theory is the same, some countries choose to express things differently. And when it comes to math, even though there cannot be too many differences, they still exist.
People are noting the numbers differently, they use other methods to multiply or divide numbers. They pronounce them differently and even have specific words for specific sums. Math education is done distinctive from country to country, but these differences should bring people together rather than divide them.
Bio lines: Jeremy Bumgardner is a content writer and blogger. He has a passion for exact sciences, including math, chemistry, and physics. Jeremy loves spending time reading books about Artificial Intelligence.
