Reflections on Learning: Section 1. Natural Numbers by

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LearningUofA — 2024-03-19 06:04:38 UTC

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LearningUofA — 2024-03-19 06:04:38 UTC

What insights have you gained from exploring the fundamental operations of addition and multiplication, subtraction and division, as well as powers and roots? Reflect on how these operations interconnect and support each other.

Can you provide examples of how these operations are used in everyday life, professions, or specific fields?

Share your experiences or any 'aha' moments you had while learning.

LearningUofA — 2024-03-19 06:04:38 UTC

Identify areas within addition, multiplication, subtraction, division, powers, and roots you're curious about and would like to explore further.

Curiosity and discovery are essential in Maths, share your thoughts and tell us what you would like to know more about!

LearningUofA — 2024-03-19 06:04:38 UTC

What is your earliest memory of using Maths in your life?

Was it maybe playing with an abacus? Was it maybe playing hopscotch? Or maybe a long drive counting trees or adding up how many hours were left to get to your destination?

Share your memories with your peers!

LearningUofA — 2024-03-19 06:04:38 UTC

What specific difficulties did you encounter while learning about addition, multiplication, subtraction, division, powers, and roots?

Were there particular concepts or types of problems that proved challenging?

How did you approach overcoming these challenges? Did you seek support from peers, instructors, or additional resources?

Share any strategies or techniques you found effective.

Section 1 is very nice.

2024-04-28 07:46:52 UTC

I really excited to do it

I am trying this course with two purposes: 1: I am trying a MOOC for the first time ever and I want to understand whether iMOOCs are suitable for a career change, and 2: I want to review basic math concepts which I studied in school decades ago. So far, it seems good, it works, it delivers what I was expecting and it is positively encouraging. Thanks for your effort

2024-05-09 13:52:30 UTC

my earliest memories are mind computations in my grandparents' shop, before school

2024-05-09 13:53:05 UTC

Factorisation and square roots

2024-05-10 04:58:42 UTC

I did not know how to use factorisation to simplify a square root expression.

No calculator

2024-05-10 04:59:54 UTC

I think I am used to using a calculator to work out square roots and powers. It was challenging to work these out by hand.

Algebra and roots

2024-05-10 05:01:07 UTC

I want to learn more complex examples of how algebra can be used with roots.

Baking

2024-05-10 05:04:45 UTC

Realising that the numbers my mum stated verbally, when weighing out ingredients for baking, were represented by the numbers on the scales she used.

Want to explore more!

2024-06-09 09:25:22 UTC

I am comfortable with basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. However, I am struggling a bit with root algebra. I find it interesting and would like to explore it further.

I enjoyed revisiting maths rules from high school. I feel a lot more competent now than I did back then.

2024-06-22 10:40:12 UTC

I struggled to understand the last worked example, ie the one which asked which two expressions are the same. I watched the video several times but I don't think I quite grasped what the tutor did.

2024-06-22 10:43:14 UTC

I have no early memories :(

2024-06-22 10:44:26 UTC

Everything :)

2024-06-22 10:44:39 UTC

2024-06-25 17:25:04 UTC

Natural numbers are easy method algebra problems are easy I have understood that every problem

I am doing this course as a preparation for the MathTrackX specialisation. And I will do the MathTrackX as a preparation for an advanced degree in a Maths based subject (Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, or even Mathematics itself).

2024-07-14 08:47:55 UTC

2024-07-28 09:15:15 UTC

I did have an aha moment about how factorisation is essentially what I am evaluating and considering the effects of when I design a database and link tables up to ensure the data that needs querying can be retrieved.

There was one question which really threw me - it was finding the square root of 1440000 without the calculator. It was the first one and it took me ages. I had to get help and I am starting to think I just went to a whole lot of trouble and there is probably a short cut I somehow didn't catch. If anyone knows please tell me!

2024-07-28 09:17:58 UTC

More root algebra and the relationship between powers and squaring and cubing.

2024-07-28 09:19:04 UTC

Root algebra I found challenging.

2024-07-28 09:19:29 UTC

Bodmas

2024-08-16 05:57:14 UTC

Difficulty in finding which order to do the operations.

The strategic approach

2024-08-25 06:15:07 UTC

I know it's basic math but it was challenging to learn it/ approach it a different way from what I was taught in high school. The strategic expansion for multiplication and division was very helpful, that was my aha moment. Loved the visual explanations in the videos also!

Doing the simple math without a calculator!

2024-08-25 06:19:01 UTC

It took me so long to remember basic math, like 8+6, 8*7, and 8*4+5. Will definitely need to brush up on my elementary math.

Need more complex questions.

2024-08-25 06:37:06 UTC

I understand the need for the less complex questions to help us solidify the concepts but even when I was refreshing the questions the new ones either had the same structure or were repeat questions. It would be nice to have a bigger selection of questions to work with.

Sharing candy with my sister

2024-08-25 06:44:34 UTC

Making sure we both got the same amount of candy!

I am trying to refresh my knowledge of basic mathematics. It has been a challenge because many, many years ago, I stopped learning the topics of this course. But I am motivated to learn. It is another way to view the world, but it is exciting!

2024-09-29 14:41:28 UTC

The strategic approach

2024-10-01 13:05:27 UTC

I am doing this to refresh my understanding and how to use different approaches when answering maths problems.

Refresher

2024-10-19 14:39:43 UTC

I wanted to advance my math knowledge and skills and this course really provides the foundation I need to advance to more complex topics. I've enjoyed the class greatly and find it useful.

I believe it is me taking the time to work through the problems systematically rather than taking shortcuts or not really examining what is presented.

2024-10-19 14:41:31 UTC

Additional math puzzles

2024-11-21 19:07:16 UTC

Hi! I loved the first part and understood almost everything. Could we have more similar equations to practice, like the ones in one of the previous videos, with a result of 10? :D

refresh maths learning

brendonwade — 2024-12-17 22:54:02 UTC

This course has been a great assistance in refreshing my maths understanding. I am also enjoying seeing how everything is explained as this will help refine my teaching at school of maths to students.

square roots

brendonwade — 2024-12-17 22:57:02 UTC

I still can't find a manageable process to work out square roots. I still have to use a degree of trial and error so I'd like to improve at this.

algebra

brendonwade — 2024-12-17 22:57:54 UTC

I definitely need to practise more algebra using roots and powers.

cooking

brendonwade — 2024-12-17 22:58:44 UTC

I think measuring out ingredients for cooking though I can't really remember.

Math

2025-03-18 11:43:59 UTC

One time, i was bored and went to shopping. Everytime I always calculate the total cost and checked if i'm right later.

music

2025-03-29 08:38:24 UTC

Algebra doesn't come naturally to me but as soon as I can relate it to elements of music theory it tends to click.

Checking and silly errors

2025-03-29 08:40:19 UTC

On the whole, I can understand the concepts and complete the tasks fairly easily. I have to stop and think methodically and remember it's not yet a race. My biggest problem is silly little errors in the basic arithmetic and not picking them up until the end.

2025-04-04 15:59:42 UTC

The lectures give insight on different ways of doing a calculation.

2025-04-04 16:00:04 UTC

Doing the streak test without calculators is challenging but also inspiring.

Great

2025-04-15 10:44:38 UTC

Great experience. I liked the way of teaching. Everything was clear except powers. I felt like I needed more teaching to fully get it.

Learning Purposefully

2025-04-25 09:20:26 UTC

I enrolled in this course to identify if mathematics was never for me or if I was just lazy and immature about taking charge of my learning in High School. Glad to say it was the latter. Thank you to David and everyone else responsible for this course, even though it was just the first section, Truly I'm grateful.

The whole classes was very breif, coincise and insightful. Thanks

2025-07-15 12:20:41 UTC

Using maths

2025-09-04 08:08:36 UTC

In general, I learned how to solve equations strategically.

I was taught to just memorize the formulas, time tables and secret methods but math is so much more fun without formulas. It feels like a game.

Cube roots

2025-09-04 08:14:57 UTC

The most challenging for me is the cube root.

Figuring it all out took me some time and a lot of errors. I even had to ask Chatgpt for help breaking down the process.

I think I've understood the concept but it still takes me some time to solve one.

Roots

2025-09-04 08:16:46 UTC

I'd like to learn more about roots as I've struggled the most with them.

I'm also excited about the following topics of the course.

Sharing with my brother

2025-09-04 08:22:18 UTC

We always share things equally, whether it's food, drinks, the games we played or even our bed territory, they were all divided by 2 when we were together.

Maybe that's why I never struggled with divisions ^^

Sharing

2025-12-15 05:12:10 UTC

when I was younger I always had to split things equally with my twin sister

algebra

2025-12-15 05:13:29 UTC

I would like to explore more on algebra and where we can use it.

Division & factors and multiples

2025-12-15 05:14:22 UTC

I some things I found challenging was division, factors and multiples

breaking down

2025-12-15 05:15:16 UTC

I enjoyed learning more and breaking down things that I did earlier in school

2026-01-12 09:08:54 UTC

Seriously, what happened with the Root Algebra section? it went from telling us nothing to then giving us a Streak Test that was WAY ADVANCED! Really disappointing to see they forgot to tell us how to approach really complex sums.

Root Algebra

2026-01-12 09:12:35 UTC

David, you didn´t explain at all how to do the Root Algebra. You gave simple and very quick examples in the video, then the next screen was a Streak Test with very complex sums. You didn´t show us how to approach these at all. Very disappointing. I really think that mathematicians forget what it's like to not know maths. you skip steps and jump from easy to difficult and don´t see that learners need these key steps to keep our understanding AND OUR CONFIDENCE increasing. Such a disappointment. I am not sure I trust the delivery will be thorough enough for the next level of maths course. Look at how many people are talking about the Root Algebra short falling in this course - have you addressed this in the course content? we can´t all be wrong. Perhaps you could put in the missing steps please?

See how many people are talking about the Root Algebra? Please throw us a line and put in a better variety of equations to work with, ranging from easy to difficult. Explain it more and explain it better.

2026-01-12 09:16:14 UTC

Also you never explained with the actual Order of Operations is : you did some sums and didn´t explain why or how things like the multiplication is stronger than the addition or what sequence to do operations in.

You skip so many steps

2026-01-13 10:50:52 UTC

honestly, I am using ChatGPT to fill in all the steps you miss with explaining concepts to us. You jump from basic concepts to really complex in one step and don´t explain how to do things. It´s so frustrating! Why am I paying for this course if I have to use CHATGPT to explain foundation maths to me?

Algebra is "simpler" than I thought.

2026-01-21 23:14:47 UTC

While it's still early days and I don't have quite the pace I'd like, just seeing the basic rules (for natural numbers) laid out and coming to grips with the value of the distributive property makes it feel so much simpler than I had originally thought. Pre-course, if I had seen the algebraic expressions involving roots I would have been totally lost, so to feel that progression as I beat every streak test is very assuring.

Memorisation

2026-01-21 23:20:00 UTC

One thing I'm noticing about maths (both in this course and outside in my career) is that memorisation is a key ingredient into pattern finding - if you want to efficiently simplify a problem down, you need to be able to find patterns, and part of that is leaning on your learned experience. It's actually the same thing in video games in fact. If you can't grok rules and data for fast recall, unless you're actively building checklists and slowly going point-by-point, you're going to find yourself staring into space confused and lost while others pass right by you as something they think is "obvious". My memorisation skills are perhaps behind par and that might be something I need to address outside of the course.

Patterns

2026-01-21 23:23:31 UTC

The course briefly touched on number patterns but then moved on, I assume because it will play a key role in later sections (I think think of a few famous formula that are essentially algebraic patterns with real world applications). Pattern identification has always been one of my major weak spots, so attempting to master that particular mountain would give me a real feeling of accomplishment.

Struggles

2026-01-21 23:27:35 UTC

I don't have positive memories. I had a bit of a chaotic start to school life that probably put me on the back foot, and plenty of sick days didn't help. I remember my Dad pushing me via negative reinforcement to remember times tables and learn to read an analogue clock and he got quite upset and disappointed with my lack of progress. I remember actively being frustrated with patterns in primary school. In high school, I saw maths as purely a necessity to suffer through, for which we spent a majority of our time on trigonometry rules I've since forgotten. I left high school feeling happy I'd never have to concern myself with maths again. Of course, being a software dev and doing software courses has made me almost regret those perspectives, and I'm here now to overcome my "fear" of mathematics.

Reflection:

2026-03-04 03:48:56 UTC

Learning about how to use algebra within maths for powers, square roots and order of operations, along with factors and multiples and other important maths formulas and functions, have helped me build a larger understanding of these topics and units.

Challenges:

2026-03-04 03:49:56 UTC

Square roots within algebra and expanding and simplifying solutions with algebra and other important formulas were a bit complicated for me, because I struggled to understand it completely.

Explore:

2026-03-04 03:50:40 UTC

I would love to further explore the order of operations module, because it is interesting and fun to complete with different expressions and it is easier for me to understand.

Connect:

2026-03-04 03:51:53 UTC

When I was younger, using maths wasn't very common. It more involved me only using basic maths, like addition and subtraction, through real life examples in kindergarten. Other than that, I never used it earlier than that.