Five Keys or Essentials for UNDERSTANDING Arithmetic and Achieving LASTING SUCCESS in the Subject

Understanding arithmetic is dependent on knowing only five “key” concepts, skills, and thought processes:

• In a number sentence or algebraic equation, or “is the same as,” not “find the answer” as on a calculator.

• Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division (ASMD) refer to actions——that occur widely in daily living.

• How to , if forgotten, instead of guessing.

• When and how to make and record —little things for big things (like 60 minutes for 1 hour, 5 pennies for 1 nickel, 12 inches for 1 foot, 3 thirds for 1 whole, and 10 ones for 1 ten) and big things for little things (like 1 week for 7 days, 1 dollar for 4 quarters, 1 yard for 3 feet, 1 whole for 4 fourths, and 1 hundred for 10 tens).

• How work instead of memorizing rules that don’t make sense (like add only the top numbers but multiply both the top and bottom numbers).