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Lesson 1: Introduction to Numbers
Many students have difficulty with higher grade level math, simply because they never learned the basic concepts of how numbers work. In some cases, students are not fully clear on what a number actually is. This lesson will explain.
Don't forget to watch the embedded YouTube video clip for this lesson at the bottom of the page.
We see numbers every day, but we often forget what a number really is. A number is just a symbol that we use to represent a particular quantity. We use the symbol "1" to show that we have one of a particular item. If we add another of that item, we use the symbol "2" to show that quantity. Of course, we use the symbol "0" to show that we have none of an item. All we have are the symbols 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. What we then do is combine those symbols in different ways. Math is simply the study of how the symbols work together, and how we can use them to solve various problems.
As basic as it sounds, it is very important that you know how to count quickly and easily. If you have difficulty with this, you'll have trouble with all of the topics that follow. If necessary, make a number line for yourself that looks like this: 1...2...3...4...etc. Make sure that you can recognize and properly say large numbers, even those higher than ten thousand (10,000), and that you understand which numbers are bigger than others.
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