Properties of Vedic Math

 

There are many features of the Vedic system which contrast significantly with conventional mathematics.

Coherence - Perhaps the most striking feature of the Vedic system is its coherence. Instead of a hotchpotch of unrelated techniques the whole system is beautifully interrelated and unified: the general multiplication method, for example, is easily reversed to allow one-line divisions and the simple squaring method can be reversed to give one-line square roots. And these are all easily understood. This unifying quality is very satisfying, it makes mathematics easy and enjoyable and encourages innovation.

Flexibility- In modern teaching you usually have one way of doing a calculation. This is rigid and boring, and intelligent and creative students rebel against it. Once you allow variations you get all sorts of benefits. Children become more creative. The teacher is encouraging innovation and the children respond. In the Vedic system there are general methods, that always work, for example a method of multiplication that can be applied to any numbers. But the Vedic system has many special methods, when a calculation has some special characteristic that can be used to find the answer more easily. And it's great fun when you spot that method.

Having only one method of, say, multiplying is like a carpenter who uses a screwdriver for every job. The skilled craftsman selects the tool most appropriate for the job and gets it done quicker, better and with more satisfaction.

So there are special methods, that apply in special cases, and also general methods. You don't have to use these special methods but they are there if you want to.

Calculations can often be carried out from right to left or from left to right.

You can represent numbers in more than one way; we can work 2 or more figures at a time if we wish.

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