Mathematics teaching system

• US 4,117,607 A
• Filed: 04/11/1977
• Issued: 10/03/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gary Gill
• Original Assignee: Gary Gill
• Inventors: Gill, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Hum, Vance Y.
• Application Number:
  US05/786,291
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 35/6, 35/8 R, 35/9 R, 35/9 A, 35/30, 35/31 R, 35/31 C, 35/8, 35/9, 35/31, 235/156, 273/DIG. 28, 340/324 AD, 364/709
• US Class Current: 434/201
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/025 with electrically operated apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/04 characterised by modifying the teaching programme in response to a wrong answer, e.g. repeating the question, supplying a further explanation

Abstract

A mathematics teaching system comprises a keyboard, for entering an arithmetic problem to be solved and includes display elements to display said problem and a solution thereto. Electronic components automatically calculate the correct step-by-step solution and provide carry-borrow information to assist the student in making his calculations and performing a step-ty-step solution. Electronic circitry and components compare the calculated step-by-step solution with each step entered by the student and generate a "try again" signal upon entry of an incorrect step by the student. Equipment operable by the student is provided to erase an incorrect step. The system can be set to operate in a manual mode comprising a step-by-step solution by the student or one of two automatic modes, one of the latter comprising the displayed solution upon the entering of the problem and the second comprising the displayed step-by-step solution upon entry of a signal by the student.

Claims

1. A mathematics teaching system for use by a student, for performing operations involved in calculation comprising:

entry means operable by said student to enter a mathematics problem and a step-by-step solution of said problem;

calculating means for automatically calculating a correct step-by-step solution to said problem; and

display means, said calculating means providing carry and borrow information to assist the student in performing calculations required in calculating said step-by-step solution of said problem, said display means being responsive to said entry means to display the entered calculation steps and being responsive to said calculating means to display said carry and borrow information to assist said student in performing calculations required in calculating said step-by-step solution.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 further including means for comparing the calculation steps entered by the student to the correct step-by-step solution and for providing a signal when the student enters a step at variance with the correct calculated step-by-step solution.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 2 further including means operable by the student to erase an incorrect calculation step entered by the student.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 1 further including means for providing a display of the correct step-by-step solution to said problem without requiring a step-by-step solution by the student.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 4 wherein said display of the correct calculated step-by-step solution to said problem is displayed each time the student enters an incorrect calculation step.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 1 further including means for providing a finish signal upon correct completion of said step-by-step solution by the student, said display means being responsive to said finish signal to display said finish signal.

7. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said display means includes a decimal point.

8. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said display means includes a vinculum.

9. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said display means includes a plurality of arithmetical symbols.

10. The invention as set forth in claim 1 further including means operable by the student to perform the arithmetic operation of borrowing.

11. The invention as set forth in claim 1 further including means operable by the student to perform the arithmetic operation of bringing down.

12. The invention as set forth in claim 1 further including means operable by the student to clear an incorrect entry made by the student.

13. The invention as set forth in claim 1 further including means operable by the student to set the position of the decimal point.

14. The invention as set forth in claim 1 further including means operable by the student to clear the problem from the system.

15. A mathematics teaching system for use by a student comprising:

means for entering an arithmetic problem;

calculating means for automatically calculating a correct step-by-step solution to said problem;

display means comprising a plurality of display elements;

entry means operable by said student to enter a step-by-step solution of said problem, said calculating means providing carry and borrow information to assist the student in making each step-by-step calculation in said solution, said display means including a first section comprising a plurality of said display elements in a row to display said carry and borrow arithmetic information, a second section comprising a plurality of said display elements in a plurality of rows and columns to display said arithmetic problem and said step-by-step solution thereto, said display means including a third section comprising a plurality of said display elements; and

means for comparing the correct calculated step-by-step solution to the solution entered by the student to generate a signal indicating an incorrect calculation by the student, said third section of said display means being responsive thereto.

16. The invention as set forth in claim 15 wherein said first section of display means is disposed above said second section such that the information concerning carrying and borrowing appears above the column of the problem to which it relates.

17. The invention as set forth in claim 15 further including means for providing an error signal upon performance of an unpermitted arithmetic operation and wherein said third section of said display includes display elements responsive thereto to display said signal.

18. The invention as set forth in claim 15 further including means operable by the student to display a complete step-by-step solution without requiring the student to work out a step-by-step solution.

19. The invention as set forth in claim 15 wherein means responsive to said signal indicating an incorrect calculation by the student in the step-by-step solution causes the incorrectly entered calculation step to blink.

20. The invention as set forth in claim 15 further including means operable by the student to erase an incorrect calculation step.

21. The invention as set forth in claim 15 wherein said display means includes a decimal point and further including means operable by the student for adjusting the position of the decimal point.

22. The invention as set forth in claim 15 wherein said display means includes a vinculum.

23. The invention as set forth in claim 15 wherein said display means includes a plurality of arithmetical symbols.

24. The invention as set forth in claim 15 wherein said display means comprises a screen of a television receiver and further including means to couple said entry means, said means for entering an arithmetic problem, said calculating means and said comparing means to said television receiver.

25. The invention as set forth in claim 15 further including means operable by the student to perform the arithmetic operation of borrowing.

26. The invention as set forth in claim 15 further including means operable by the student to perform the arithmetic operation of bringing down.

27. The invention as set forth in claim 15 further including means operable by the student to clear an incorrect entry made by the student.

28. The invention as set forth in claim 15 further including means operable by the student to set the position of the decimal point.

29. The invention as set forth in claim 15 further including means operable by the student to clear the problem from the system.

30. A mathematics teaching system operable by a student comprising:

entry means for entering an arithmetic problem and for entering a step-by-step solution to said problem;

calculating means for automatically calculating a correct step-by-step solution to said problem;

comparison means for comparing the correct calculated step-by-step solution to the step-by-step solution calculated by the student and for generating a signal indicating error when a calculation step entered by the student differs from the correct calculated step-by-step solution, said calculating means providing carry-borrow information to assist the student in making each calculation step in performing the calculation of the step-by-step solution to the problem; and

display means comprising a screen of a television receiver, said display means being coupled to said means for entering an arithmetic problem, said calculation means, said entry means and said comparison means such that said display means is actuated to display said arithmetic problem, said entry of said calculation steps by the student, said borrow-carry information and said signal indicating a variance between the correct calculated step-by-step solution and an incorrect calculation step by the student.

31. The invention as set forth in claim 30 wherein said display means display said carry-borrow information above columns of said problem to which the information relates.

32. The invention as set forth in claim 31 further including means for providing a finish signal when a complete and correct step-by-step solution has been performed by the student, said display means being responsive to said finish signal to display the same.

33. The invention as set forth in claim 31 further including means operable by the student to erase an incorrect calculation step.

34. The invention as set forth in claim 30 further including television signal generating means responsive to said entry means, calculation means and comparison means to generate a television signal to be received by said television receiver.