RELATING “FINGER MATHEMATICS”TO THE PRODUCT OF BINOMIALS

Abstract

Finger Mathematics is considered a home-owned procedure as claimed by a majority of the freshmen college students of Southern Leyte State University-Main Campus, Sogod, Southern Leyte. This had been taught to them by most of their parents and was strengthened in their elementary mathematics. This procedure is even observed in high school without the effort of memorizing the multiplication table. Respondents do not have the idea on why this procedure works nor do their teachers in their elementary and high school explained the basis for this procedure. In this study, how finger mathematics works is given emphasis with an expose’ on its formula and proof wherein the product of binomials explains very well the role of the raised and down-curled fingers in the procedure. In this case, finger mathematics which has been used in the area for about a century, contributed to the importance of basic mathematics in its development which has direct implications in Algebra.