Seeking Peace and Joy Adds Up
So holy cow it’s January 12th already and my “new Year’’s Resolutions are sitting patiently by waiting for me to dig in. Now it could be that some of us make these resolutions and don’t start on them right away and are starting to feel guilty…let’s visit that a little later. It may be that we’ve already given up in which case pat yourself on the back for being an overachiever as research has shown that the majority of all resolutions are abondoned by January 19th sometimes known as National Give Up Day. Either way let’s figure out what we really. Want to work on and start today but… first….
Let’s figure out why we didn’t start right away… There are probably lots of reasons, however, maybe its mostly about fear of change? Maybe let’s explore this by relating it to something most people are taught to fear—MATH.
Yep… you see most people get taught to be afraid of math at some level and then they stop building the foundation to change their level of math skills. So … let’s substitute math skills for life skills and put some stronger math bricks in your foundation and then in the next couple posts bring the two together. Life hacks/ Math Hacks
We are usually taught somewhere around third grade. Or fourth grade the only math hack we ever learn… so your schools are ripping you off (big shocker). What’s that Hack?
The rule of 9
When you multiply. Any number by nine the sum of the numbers in the answer will add up to nine. While this is true no matter how high you go we are usually only taught up to 9 X 9.
That’s a good foundational hack, however, it just get’s left there with no building. On top of it and that leads to some uncertainty so let’s expand shall we? What is almost? Why 10 of course… So multiplying by 9 is the same as multiplying by 10 which is adding a 0 to the end and subtracting that number multiplying by 1 which is of course that number. So let’s say we want to multiply 319 X 9 well that is 3190 — 31990–19 is 71 and 3100 —300 is 2800 so the answer is 2871 and of course 2+8+7+1 is 18 and 1+8 is 9 (remember what we said about the digits adding up to 9? So instead of multiplying all this numbers you are simplifying be adding a zero and subtracting and subtracting shouldn’t scare anyone…
The 5 Hack
Now another hack we should all be taught is the 5 hack but we are not. Now multiplying be 10 is adding a 0 and 5 is half of 10 so take the you are multiplying by 5 let’s say 1286 just for giggles. So cut 1286 in half which is 643 and and the 0 there’s your answer so what if it is an odd number …pick the next higher or the next lower number and do the same thing and simply add or subtract the 5. So let’s do 6217 for example… we’ll add 1 making it 6218 cut in half that’s 3109 now add the 0 so you have 31090 then subtract the 5 and presto you get 31085
Squaring numbers that end in 5 … so let’s say we are going to multiply 25 time 25 the hard way is to multiply 20 times 25 and then add another 5 times 25 or the other way around. The easy way is to look at the first digit which. Is 2 and then multiply it by the very next number which is 3 and then stick 25 on the end. So 25 time 25 is 6 (3X2) 25. Now let’s go to 45 squared using the same hack it is 4X5 (20) with a 25 tacked on or 2025 so of course 85 squared is 7225 etc.. and yes 105 squared is 110 (11X10) 25 11025!
Just one more for today
Multiplying by 25…
Now 4 X 25 is 100 and just like multiplying by 10 adds one zero… multiplying by 100 adds two zeros. Now the trick here is to remember. We are multiplying by 100 divided by 4.. so we add the two zeros and then divide by 4 or divide by 4 first and then add the zeros. So let’s take 72 X 25 .. Now 72 divided by 4 is 18 and 25X72 is 1800 Now you say that’s all good but what if the number doesn’t plot by 4? Good question… since you are multiplying by 25 your answer has to end in 00 25 50 or 75 so after you divide if there is 1 left over your answer ends in 25 for example 117 X 25 = 117 divided by 4. Or 29 with 1 left over.. so the answer has to end in 25 which means 117 times 25 is going to be 2925 39 X25 would be 39 divided by 4 which. Is 9 with 3 left over so that is going to end in 75 or 975
The point is …. Math can be fast and fun and easy..however many of us were not taught that… We learned that there were piles of complicated numbers to be figured out. Carried put in columns and the very least we need a fancy calculator to even come close..
What is being suggested here is that we are probably more likely to feel good about seeking peace and joy through New Year’s change if we start with a simplified scheme that we can feel good about.
So let’s say you want to eat better…. Start by multiplying by 10… What? Adding one zero… eating one piece of fruit or one green vegetable Then if you want to get a little more advanced multiple. By five.. Eat one fruit AND. One vegetable .
Back to the point about not starting yet… Screw it… You are the master of your own life calendar… start today … Guilt never changed history… and you may have to start again a few times in order. To figure out what formula works for you.. You may multiply. By 9 by simply multiplying by 9 but. You may find it must easier to multiply. By 10 and subtract.
Seeking peace and joy or any change or building any meaning is adding up the pieces from where you stand at any one time. And after a while you can start putting some anchors down like knowing that 74 squared is 5476 and 76 squared is 5776 and 88 squared is 7744… the point is practice facing fears to build a foundation from which to exercise curiousity … and be sure to show your work!
More Math hacks soon and your new year starts now…
Peace.
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