Do you want to practice speed math? This trainer presents addition, subtraction, multiplication and division in a flexible format for serious students.

“Instant” Start
- Requirements
Who is this speed_math trainer for?
Features
- Pros:
- Cons:
Setup a new Conda Environment
Trainer Fast Start
- Easy Packaging of Custom Configurations
Configuration
Right-to-left or Left-to-right?
- Even more practice with left-to-right entry!
Log File Format
To Be Done
- Mental Calculations World Championship
Change Log
Links

“Instant” Start

    pip install deepmerge # install required package
    cd <your_root>        # cd to a convient folder for speed_math
    git clone https://gitlab.com/TrailingDots/speedmath.git
    cd speed_math
    # Try out a few runs:
    ./speed_math.sh --help      # Display help
    # OR:
    ./speed_math.sh --addition -c add_3.yaml
    ./speed_math.sh -a         -c add_3.yaml  # Use short flags
    ./speed_math.sh --multiplication -c mult_11_12.yaml
    ./speed_math.sh -m -c mult_11_12.yaml     # Use short flags
    # OR:
    ./speed_math.sh --list       # List pre-built configurations

Requirements

Python 3.6+ is required. This code likely works in a 3.1+ but is untested for these python 3 releases.

Python 3+ should be loaded with your virtual environment.

Pre-install requirements:

    pip install deepmerge            # To merge config files
    alias python=python3             # Force use of python3

Point your browser to: speed_math. Then select your preferred download options from the “clone” dropdown. I like the http version myself.

This is how an install and quick checkout should proceed. Normal output is suppressed.

    cd <speed_math base dir>    # Your choice
    git clone https://gitlab.com/TrailingDots/speedmath.git

    cd speed_math       # Into speed_math main directory
    ./speed_math.sh --help     # List help. Contains sample runs.

    # Try a simple addition exercise, Ctrl-C to terminate if desired.
    ./speed_math.sh -a -c add_3.yaml

    # Notice the results get logged for later training graphs.
    # This file may be loaded into a spreadsheet for graphics trends.
    cat speedy.csv
    timestamp,config,addition,right,wrong,seed,time
    20210308T084112,add_3.yaml,addition,7,3,80.10

Who is this `speed_math` trainer for?

Speed math training is a great way to keep your mind sharp. This program helps in brushing up with sums, product, subtraction and division.

Simple user configuration files allow settings from very simple to world class problems.

Any mathematics system such as Trachtenberg or Vedic or “normal” school math may be used. Unfortunately, specialized support for the various systems is not present.

Anyone desiring arithmetic practice will profit by mental math practice. While becoming a “numbers genius” requires dedication and work, using problem sets from this program can benefit most practitioners.

The only way to become great at mental math is to practice. And this program provides great practice sessions that scale from your current level to world class.

Features

None of these pros or cons apply if you do not practice on a regular basis. To improve your arithmetic skills takes dedication and practice. A software package merely assists and cannot replace.

speed_math does not use the spaced repetition system for learning. Each individual must determine their own strengths and weaknesses. The spaced repetition systems apply to learning from flashcards. This is not useful in learning speed math or mental math.

Pros:

Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division problems.
Timings for each session of problems.
Scripts allow pre-set runs to easily train over learning sessions.
Log file of each session that used to track progress.
Log files contain timings and right/wrong values.
Log files that can be loaded into a spreadsheet for learning curves as progress indicators.
Two ways of inputing numbers: left-to-right and right-to-left.
Runs in console.
Unlimited number of problems.
Highly configurable.
A random number seed allows redoing a particular session.
Can practice Olympiad strength problems for addition, multiplication and exact division. (Olympiad does not offer subtraction problems)

Cons:

Runs from pre-edited config files. These are easy to create and modify with any text editor. This is not necessarily a ‘con’.
No right-to-left digit entry with “proper” alignment. This is the most natural way of entry. See discussion below.
For Olympiad training several operators are missing. If enough requests are made, these operators can easily be coded.

Setup a new Conda Environment

Create and activate a Speed Math Training environment. You’ll need access to the command line. (You are welcome to create your own name for the virtual environment.)

In the terminal window type:

    conda create -n speedmath python=3.6

The screen will then display a message that should look similar to this:

    The following NEW packages will be INSTALLED:

    <snip for brevity>
    Proceed ([y]/n)?

Type y and hit return.

Depending on your computer, internet speed, and if we have done this before, the computer will process for 5 seconds to 5 minutes, then return us to the command-line. Once that’s done, we type this at the command-line:

    conda activate speedmath

Virtual Environment Details

Anaconda3 is the tool we use for virtual environments.

Virtual environments allow us to do things like run one project with Python 3.1 and 3.6 on the same machine. Python 3.X is required. A virtual environment such as anaconda3 is highly recommended.

In general, the reference to Anaconda3 is “conda” since “conda” gets used as the command line command.

Experienced with Conda Alternatives?

Advanced users might have experience with tools likd virtualenv, docker, pyenv, etc. If so, use them.

Installing Conda on Linux

Go to miniconda
Find the Python 3.6 versions or one close enough.
Click the link with 64-bit in the name and download.
On your computer, open a terminal. Go to the directory where you save the downloaded files: cd ~/Downloads (Your directory may be different.) Make the file exe-cutable: chmod a+x Miniconda3-latest-Linux-x86_64.sh (Your name may be different depending on your selection.) Execute the file: ./Miniconda3-latest-Linux-x86_64.sh .
Follow the instructions on the screen. If unsure about any setting, accept the defaults. We can change them later.
When the installation is finished, close the current terminal window and open a new one.
Type conda list and press enter.

Trainer Fast Start

In the base directory of the downloaded source, run the speed_math.sh script to get the defaults sessions:

    ./speed_math.sh --addition           # For additional practice
    ./speed_math.sh --multiplication     # For multiplication practice
    # OR:
    ./speed_math.sh -a                   # For additional practice
    ./speed_math.sh -m                   # For multiplication practice

The above uses default configurations which may or may not satisfy your needs. Please consider using one of the existing configuration files or create your own.

To try a simpler trainer using a named configuration:

    ./speed_math.sh --config add_3.yaml --addition
    ./speed_math.sh --config add_3.yaml --multiplication
    # OR:
    ./speed_math.sh -c add_3.yaml -a
    ./speed_math.sh -c add_3.yaml -m

Multiple example configuration files provide a reasonable range of exercises. These are located in the ‘speed_math/config’ directory.

Easy Packaging of Custom Configurations

Because a user is expected to practice over extended periods, a specific exercise can be packaged in a linux script:

    cat >add3       # Use your session name
    #!/bin/bash
    ./speed_math.sh --config add_3.yaml --addition
    Ctl-d           # This terminates the script
    chmod a+x add3  # Make the script executable
    ./add3          # Start using the custom script

This creates a script file called add3. The Ctl-D means press the control key and the d key to terminate input to the cat command.

Scripts are conveniently located in the main directory of speed_math and not in a config directory. This allows a user to simply go to the speed_math directory and begin practicing.

Important: a proper configuration file must be placed in speed_math/config.add_3.yaml that is referenced by the small script above. The newly created add3 script references this configuration!

To start the newly created add3 exercises:

    ./add3

Configuration

Using configuration files permits a mental math practitioner to run the practice sessions over and over. The history file of speedy.csv provides results of this training.

Configuration gets loaded from two files: a default configuration file and a specific session configuration file.

The default configuration file contains all configuration settings to run all operations.

The user configurations are user created and contains all the settings necessary to run a specific training session. These user settings override any settings in the default configuration file.

All configuration files must exist in the speed_math/config directory.

Do NOT modify any files in the speed_math/tests/ directory!

Tip: To create a new configuration file, copy an existing config file to a decently named for that copied file. Modify the ‘title’ line in the new config file. Then hack that new configuration file to your desires.

Default Configuration

The default configuration is named “default.yaml” and it is strongly recommended that this not be renamed or modified.

The default configuratin provides settings for each of the training sessions as well as common settings used throughout the sessions.

The default configuration, with comments omitted, looks like:

    cat default.yaml            # Print the default.yaml file
    common:
        timing: True            # Always time a session.
        reverse_input: True     # Default: Enter numbers right-to-left
        log_file: 'speedy.csv'  # Log file. If omitted, no log

    addition:                   # Addition of numbers
        wide: 6                 # 6 columns of digits
        rows: 2                 # 2 rows to add
        loops: 10               # Loop for 10 problems

    subtraction:                # Subtraction
        minuend_wide: 5         # The number to be subtracted, # digits
        subtrahend_wide: 3      # The number subtracted, # digits
        loops: 10               # Loop for 10 problems

    multiplication:             # Multiply two numbers loops times
        multiplicand_wide: 2    # Number of digits in multiplicand
        multiplier_wide: 2      # Number of digits in multiplies
        loops: 10               # Loop for 10 problems

    division:
        dividend_wide: 3
        divisor_wide: 1
        #choices: 7,6           # Practice division by 6 or 7 only.
        loops: 10

The default config file is always named ‘default.yaml’.

A user may override this default file name by using the --default_config_file new_default.yaml where new_default.yaml is the your newly provided default config file.

Yaml encoding is commonly used for configuration files.

All configuration files must be properly yaml formatted. An error in yaml syntax should display the line number of the yaml file. In case of errors, inspect the previous lines before the indicated line number. An error in yaml coding results in a program abort.

The default configuration file defines sessions for all operations. More will be added as necessary. The settings will not likely satisfy users and are expected to be overwritten in the user configuration files.

Creating and running a session with the default configuration is as easy as:

    ./speed_math.sh --addition
    # OR:
    ./speed_math.sh -a

This default is unlikely to satisfy users. Please create your own session configurations.

Title for Configuration Files

As a mental math practitioner develops, keeping track of each configuration can be a chore. To ease this, use the title: in each created configuration file.

A keyword of “title” permits a quick reminder of what the file does. As the number of your config files increases, this helps in a quick determination of how to use the config file.

An example of a title in a configuratino file:

    #
    # To run addition sessions:
    # ./speed_math.sh --config add_3.yaml --addition
    #
    # To run multiplication session:
    # ./speed_math.sh --config add_3.yaml --multiplication
    #
    title: "10 loops. Add 3 digits wide, 2 rows. Multiply: 2 by 2"
    # Present 10 problems.
    addition:
        wide: 3
        rows: 2
        loops: 10

    # Multiplication: 2 digits wide each number
    multiplication:
        multiplicand_wide: 2
        multiplier_wide: 2
        loops: 10

This config file first lists its use for adding or multiplying from the command line.

The “title:” quickly describes the intended usage.

Now the addition and multiplication specify how problems get presented.

Notice that multiple operators my be configured in each configuration file.

Details of Default Configuration

Configuration files use yaml for their settings.

Yaml is a human friendly data serialzation standard. Yaml is easy to read and understand. Modification to configuration files should thus be easy.

The default configuration file contains settings for all operators.

User supplied configuration files may supply setting different than the default configuration and thusly override the default configuration.

A training session without a user config file may or may not suit your expectations. A user config file is highly recommended.

Name your user config files to something memorable. Create your user config file by copying an existing config file and modifiing according to your desires.

‘title’ Line

Each config file should have a title that describes the problem configuration. This should not extend more than one line.

To get a list of title in all know config files:

    ./speed_math.sh --list

‘common’ Configuration

The common section contains settings used for each operation.

    common:
        log_file: 'speedy.csv'  # Log file. If omitted, no log
        reverse_input: True     # Default: Enter numbers right-to-left

log_file The name of the file to save scores for each session. If omitted, sessions save results in speedy.csv. reverse_input This setting determines whether input numbers get entered right-to-left (rtl) or left-to-right (ltr). When performing mental math, the usual entries get written from right to left. Unfortunately terminal entry is always ltr. Using “reverse_input: True” decreases the mental load of remembering the digits as a user had to be concerned with only a single column at a time. With “reverse_input: False”, a user must remember the result of each column and reverse this sequence for a final answer. Terminal input is not as flexible as web-based input. See the section further on for examples.

addition

The addition settings control the addition sessions.

    addition:                   # Addition of numbers.
        wide: 6                 # Each integer is 6 digits wide.
        rows: 2                 # 2 rows to add.
        loops: 10               # Loop for 10 problems.

wide The number of digits on each row for addition. For the value of 6, the numbers have a range of 100000 thru 999999 inclusive. For a value of 3, the numbers have a range from 100 to 999. For the value of 2, the numbers have a range of 10 thru 99 inclusive. rows The number of rows in each problem to add. loops The number of problems in each session.

subtraction

The subtraction section provides settings to control subtraction.

    title: "Subtraction: 5 digits minus 3 digit numbers. 3 loops"
    subtraction:
        minuend_wide: 5
        subtrahend_wide: 3
        loops: 3

minuend_wide The number of digits in the minuend (upper value) subtrahend_wide The number of digits in the subtrahend (lower value) choices Each subtrahend gets constrained to a random value in this comma seperated list.

Formal naming of subtraction

The number subtracted from is the minuend. The number being subtracted is know as the subtrahend. The result is the difference.

    123456    # Minuend
       789    # Subtrahend
    ------
    122667    # Result

multiplication

The multiply section provides settings to control multiplication.

    multiplication:             # Multiply two numbers loops times
        multiplicand_wide: 2    # Number of digits in multiplicand
        multiplier_wide: 2      # Number of digits in multipliers
        choices: 7,11           # OPTIONAL: Multiply by 7 or 11 randomly
        loops: 10               # Loop for 10 problems

multiplicand_wide The number of digits in the multiplicand. (The top number in a multiplication problem.) For the value of 2, the numbers have a range of 10 thru 99 inclusive. multiplier_wide The number of digits in the multiplier. For the value of 2, the numbers have a range of 10 thru 99 inclusive. choices

This optional setting requires a list of numbers that will be used as multipliers. The above setting of “7,11” will use only 7 or 11 for multipliers.

This setting is great for practicing multiplication by only one number. For example, choices: 7 allows practice of multiplication for all problems by 7.

If no choices keyword appears, then the multiplier_wide will contain the number of digits specified by the multiplier_wide setting.

“choices”, if present, overrides the “multiplier_wide” setting. loops The number of problems in each session.

division

The division section provides settings to control division. The values for division get constrained for exact integers only. Results are always integer results with no fractions.

    title: "Divide 3 digits dividend, by 7 or 6. 10 loops"
    common:
        reverse_input: False # left to right for div
    division:
        dividend_wide: 3
        divisor_wide: 1
        choices: 7,6
        loops: 10

common Ensure this reverse_input: True gets set for division. Normal hand division enters digits left to right. dividend_wide The number of digits in the larger number. divisor_wide The number of digitis in the smaller number to divide into the larger number.

User Created Configuration ‘Script’ Files

Running the trainer with only the default configuration and no session configuration file results in default problems. These may be unlikely to suit your level as either too hard or too easy.

An example of running a session with a config file could be:

    ./speed_math.sh --config mult_11_12.yaml --multiplication
    # OR:
    ./speed_math.sh -c mult_11_12.yaml -m

The example configuration file mult_11_12.yaml illustrates the addition of choices to the multiplication problems:

    multiplication:
        multiplicand_wide: 2
        multiplier_wide: 2  # This line ignored since choices exists.
        choices: 11,12      # Multiply by 11 or 12 only.
        loops: 10

Notice that this config file had no “common” settings because it inherits “common” settings from the “default.yaml” config file.

In this multiplication session the choices for the multiplier are limited to either 11 or 12.

Problems with this user configuration limit themselves to 2 digit numbers multiplied by either 11 or 12 with 11 or 12 randomly selected as the multiplier.

If choice: 7, then then multiplier is always 7. In this case, the session provides problems targeted to multiplication by 7 only.

If you want to practice with specific numbers only, this is a great way to create problems.

Use “choices” to practices on specific areas such a multiplications by 11, 12, 15, 25, etc.

For the above multiplication yaml configuration, the session consists of 10 problems of 2 digits multiplied by 7.

Multple Operations per Config File

The yaml configuration file add_3.yaml illustrates that a config file may configure multiple operations for practice sessions. While the name “add_3.yaml” used as multiplication is misnamed, this illustrates a possiblity.

    # Addition: 3 digits wide, 2 rows
    # Present 10 problems.
    addition:
        wide: 3
        rows: 2
        loops: 10

    # Multiplication: 2 digits wide each number
    multiplication:
        multiplicand_wide: 2
        multiplier_wide: 2
        loops: 10

The above starts a multiplication session with:

    ./speed_math.sh --config add_3.yaml --multicatin

An additional session would be:

    ./speed_math.sh --config add_3.yaml --addition

Right-to-left or Left-to-right?

Notice the setting in the default.yaml file of reverse_input: True.

This setting controls the handling of user input answer. Specifically this controls right-to-left (rtl) input vs left-to-right (ltr) input.

When performing addition or multiplication the numeric digit entry usually gets entered from the right end of the answer.

As an example with reverse_input: True, consider adding two digit numbers:

     123
     456
    ----

The first digit is 9 = 3 + 6 and the display becomes:

The second digit is 7 = 3 + 5 and the display becomes:

The last digit is 5 = 1 + 4. So the final result looks like:

This display is not the normal way of displaying an answer.

On web pages this gets handled with internationalization (I18N) settings.

On Linux terminals these numeric entries operate the same as any other strings: left-to-right.

TBD on some future release.

Even more practice with left-to-right entry!

Setting reverse_input: False requires a user to get the final answer and input in the normal sequence of digits: left-to-right.

This has an advantage of building even more speed math skills by remembering the digits as calculated, then reversing those digits for a final answer.

Specifically, when mentally computing an answer in front of other people, they expect the hear the answer in a left-to-right sequence.

Log File Format

A log file, speedy.csv, uses a series of comma separated variables (CSV) lines that record results of each session.

The csv file may be removed, edited and/or read by a spreadsheet as desired. This file will be auto-created if it does not exist.

The initial line of this CSV file contains the column names and should be self-explanatory.

A leading timestamp records all log entries. ISO 8601 provides the of the format. speed_math uses the following timestamp:

    %Y%m%dT%H%M%S

This format gets interpreted as: Year-Month-Day Hour-Minute-Second. ISO Time (ISO 8601) in Python? provides a simple explanation.

The location of this format is in speed_math/speed_math.py may be modified if loading to your spreadsheet encounters problems. After modifying the timestamp format, remove the speedy.csv file and speed_math will write a new header and begin recording is the new format.

To Be Done

Updates will depend on feedback.

Add operations for division, subtraction, squares, roots.
Get pythonic user installation working properly. sdist – Yuck! Python packaging sucks. Pyinstall?
NCurses of right-to-left numeric entry on linux consoles. Clumsy?
A web based version? Write in Django? NCurses?
Detailed notes on anaconda3 use, installation procedures.
Operations: Add subtraction, division, roots. Dates? Powers?
Dates? Does anyone need date exercises?
The current display shows vertical problems only. Show multiplication problems horizontally?
Dedicated directory from $HOME for config files?
Division anyone? Not too difficult.
Subtraction anyone? Should be easy.
Developer notes?
Roots? h
The Makefile does not have all targets working correctly. Important?
“make lint” requires other utilities that may not be in a users environment. Important?
Straighten out the imports. I don’t like to write os.path.append() to get an import to work. The python import system is confusingly broken.
Random numbers get generated by the OS – linux. Is it necessary to allow users to seed a generator for repeatable problems?
A CSV, Comma Separated Variables, file gets generated with each example run.
What is the interest in generating progress reports? Other than creation, nothing else happens to this file.
Forget the entire config philosophy and prompt the user for all config options each time the code runs? Some command line utilities make this “easy”?
Division results in exact integers by design. If users desire, an inexact division to X decimal places?

Mental Calculations World Championship

World Mental Calculation offers competitions in categories this packages does not cover:

addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
exact division
irrational and exact square roots, cube roots and deeper roots
factorizations
fractions
calendar dates
surprises

Change Log

Version 0.4

Added division. Converted to tuples for easire handling of errors and results. This is a step towards using python monads without the ensuing complexity.

The test suite was beefed up and coverage is 95%.

Many refactoring in various places.

Version 0.3

Added division, subtraction. Added stubs for squares and roots.

Branch to add operators

Use git branch AddOperators for division, subtraction, roots

Branch Tests

Adding tests to speed_math

Version 0.2

Major renaming and re-org of code. Moved from an initial assumption of Trachtenberg based training to any mental math training. Users are free to use any math system they like – hopefully!

Attemped to use package for pip, but don’t have enough time to figure out the nuances.

This means users must run the code in the source code directory – not good, but not too bad.

Has 93% code coverage. Not too bad, could be better.

Various lints report (hopefully) minor problems that all lints nag about.

Version 0.1

Initial release. Works well, but has rough spots.

Links

Lots of places have documentation/videos on speed math. This abundance leaves me in awe and so I do not provide links on speed math.

If you desire to learn speed math or mental math, practice is the only way to obtain decent results.

If you are serious:

Top 5 Mental Math Methods in the World reviews five speed mental math systems from the normal method taught in shcol to Trachtenberg and Vedic. He states that the speed Vedic math is the best.

vedic Maths India organizes the Vedic math system with courses, franchises, etc. They state Vedic mental math is the world’s fastest math system.

The Kumon Method and its Strengths offers a Japanese method. Deeply disappointing is the fact that The Kumon Method is not mental at all nor does it offer any special methods and does not improve one’s speed.

The Trachtenberg Speed System of Basic Mathematics describes the famous Trachtenberg speed mathematics. This book contains the interesting history of this system wherein the originator developed it in German concentration camps. For other expositions of this system google: “Trachtenberg speed math”.

See also The Trachtenberg Speed System of Basic Mathematics that contains many details of this system. A free pdf download is included. If enough interest in this systems exists, I may extend this software to cover all that Trachtenberg describes.

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