Mathematical reasoning and critical thinking

Critical thinking is the ability to think clearly and logically, understanding how concepts and numbers go together in a manner that makes sense, is referred to as critical thinking. Critical thinkers will identify, analyse and solve problems systematically rather than by intuition or instinct. Critical thinking requires a wide range of abilities, such as keen observation, analysis, interpretation, reflection, assessment, inference, explanation, problem solving, and decision making. Math teaches critical thinking through a series of steps. The uniqueness and complexity of math’s require students to be able to think critically as they learn them.

Developing critical thinking skills requires an effective, constructive, and cognitive methods to make it easier for teachers to uncover student’s abilities. Teachers need to use the right methods, like interactive numeracy games, to teach students how to think critically. We can foster an environment where children are motivated to “switch on” their brains and actively interact with the mathematical processes they will need to master in order to succeed in the future. One way is by playing lNumeracy games or using activity-based learning methods, playing lNumeracy games teaches the brain to think critically and rationally since the process is more organised and sensible. Curriculum models, instructional methodologies, and strategies for gamified self-paced learning that promote critical thinking and mathematics problem-solving skills. Understanding and being able to think critically about numerical ideas and information is essential for students in all academic disciplines.

Solutions to numerical problems, requiring analysis, and synthesis may help students develop their critical thinking skills.

Numeracy is more than just knowing how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide. Numerical ability is the ability to use critical thinking abilities such as analysis and interpretation, as well as mathematical fundamentals such as algebra, to quantitative data. Numeracy refers to the ability to solve quantitative reasoning problems, or to making judgments derived from quantitative reasoning in a variety of contexts. It is more than being able to compute or calculate a solution to a mathematical equation.  Numeracy includes understanding how quantitative information is gathered, represented, and correctly interpreted using graphs, charts, tables and diagrams. A person with strong numeracy skills can apply his or her knowledge of numbers, arithmetic, algebraic relationships, geometric relationships, and mathematical techniques to situations that require the interpretation or evaluation of quantitative information. The person with strong numeracy skills is able to recognize and use quantitative information, patterns, ratios, percentages, spatial relationships, and statistical information intelligently and correctly when drawing conclusions, making estimates, explaining or predicting events or behavior’s.

Numerical literacy involves making sense of information that contains mathematical concepts and expressions, making connections with other ideas and contexts, and creating meaning and knowledge, it involves being able to think critically about numerical information. Critical and creative thinking need to be embedded in every mathematics lesson. Children, adolescents and adults alike need to be able to think critically about the mathematical and numerical information that surrounds them in the media, on the Internet, in schools and workplaces, and in society at large. Problem solving improves mathematical ability. It equips students with the skills they need to apply their mathematical knowledge to hypothetical and real-world challenges.