| "Numbers are the highest degree of knowledge. It | | | | we probe the world of numbers and operations |
| is knowledge itself." -Plato | | | | involving them. To make matters more fun, we |
| As the quote elucidates, knowledge sits on the | | | | learn math tricks which sharpen our math skills |
| shoulders of numbers. Whenever I encounter a | | | | and give us a sense of power over these curious |
| quote like this, particularly when the source is as | | | | and ever mind-bending creatures. By learning how |
| renowned as that of the likes of Plato, I sit back | | | | to better deal with numbers and their associated |
| and muse smugly that I hit the nail on the head | | | | arithmetic properties, we forge a tunnel that leads |
| many years ago when I realized that numbers | | | | to the very essence of nature: mathematics and |
| were indeed the highest degree of knowledge. | | | | science, two inter-related disciplines that can only |
| Extrapolating from this realization, we can say | | | | be understood through numbers and their |
| with certainty then that learning to work with | | | | properties. |
| numbers as through math tricks and such-that is, | | | | By studying and learning the inter-relationships |
| getting an inner feel for all their intricacies and | | | | among arithmetic and algebraic properties like the |
| richness-will produce extraordinary results in the | | | | Associative, Commutative and Distributive laws, |
| education of any man, woman, or child. | | | | we become better connected to numbers and |
| During my first year of college, my fortuitous | | | | consequently see evidence of such laws working |
| stumbling in pre-calculus actually led me to the | | | | in nature. Learning about special sequences like the |
| transcendent awareness that mathematics paved | | | | Fibonacci only requires a basic understanding of |
| a road to a higher-indeed spiritual-realm. Because I | | | | numbers; but then, one learns that this very |
| was determined to maintain my "A" average, I | | | | sequence of numbers is used as a stock trading |
| forced myself to open my arms to this subject | | | | tool by professionals to make millions of dollars! |
| and to study it feverishly. Having secured the "A" | | | | When one delves into numerical operations, he |
| grade in pre-calculus, I plunged headlong into | | | | comes to share the sense of enlightenment and |
| calculus. Similar experiences with calculus | | | | empowerment that comes with a mastery over |
| reinforced my belief that math and numbers were | | | | numbers. And as though this were not enough, |
| the key to all higher learning and our connection to | | | | the extra dividend of learning math tricks and |
| the divine. Indeed many of the quotes from | | | | mastering numbers is that educational success |
| famous mathematicians embrace the idea that | | | | overall is sure to follow, besides possibly making a |
| math touches upon this very sphere of existence. | | | | killing in the stock market! Now what could be a |
| So how do we use this knowledge about | | | | better road map to success in school and life than |
| numbers and mathematics to our benefit? Simply, | | | | this? |