Mind Trick

There are thousand ways to reach one solution. the ultimate solution in life or in simpler situation, how your solve some mathemathical problem or just how your calculate your budget. after all, it's your priority but last thursday, i found out how interesting (not found out to be exact, but realize is much better term) our mind works (or in this case, it's my mind).

the case is when i'm buying 4 pieces of bread at rotiboy which price at RM 1.50, Rm 1.50, RM 1.50 and RM 1.80. ok, here the way i found out how my mind do the calculation for the total price.

First attempt:

(RM 1.50 x 4) + RM 0.30
= RM 6.00 + RM 0.30

Extracting RM 1.50 from RM 1.80 make the calculation much easier thus make RM 1.50 x 4 = RM 6.00 + RM 0.30 then.

at second thought, i found out that i'm not used to adding all up the numbers by lump sum. i tend to do it my way. by refering my way, i prefer to divide or substract one number so that i can reach one focal point in my calculation. for example:

8 + 4 in my mind is easier to calculated by (8 + 2) + 2 so that i can reach focal point of 10 so the calculation for the rest is much easier. i know it's sound so much work but that' s how i use to deduce my math problem.

on deeper thought, i found out that there are several way in reaching the same solution.

second attempt:

RM 1.50 + RM 1.50 + RM 1.50 + RM 1.80
= RM 6.30

this is the usual way, the way they teach us at school. seriously for me, this way not working out so well with me cause i hate to see large number. i love to chunk it to small pieces so my mind can do the workout well. so that i can utilize my multiplying skill at addition operation. or maybe substraction operation. i love multiplying operation so much. i also love to see number is just from 0 to 10 only... cause that's what number really are. they are just 0 - 9, the ultimate number so to concluded is 10.

third attempt:

(RM 1.50 + RM 1.50 + RM 1.50) + RM 1.80
= RM 4.50 + RM 1.80

this is quite interesting way by our brain adding the number by grouping it according to one similarity.

fourth attempt:

(RM 1.50 + RM 1.50) + (RM 1.50 + RM 1.80)
= RM 3.00 + RM 3.30

this pattern usually happen when the item separated by person. deducing is based on differentiation that our mind made earlier in the process. this pattern make the balance of money given much easier to calculate. but some people use this pattern to deduce their problem by nature. it's divide-n-conquer rules.

After 4th attempt, i realize that how different people think in coming out with solution. complexity of the problem may/may not change our way to deduce it. for me, the variable of the problem change the way i deduce it. adding one more variable, things getting much interesting and minor/major change can be expected.

now, math sound interesting right? i teach my nieces my way to deduce math problem and life is much better for them. lucky them since i working my ass to come out with my way and they doesn't need to get through the hardship to think it on their own.

TELL ME BOUT YOUR WAY TO DEDUCE THE PROBLEM. :)