This PPT is useful for both B.Ed, M.Ed and Dl.Ed students...

1. Analytic & Synthetic
Method
Dr.G.Jaganmohana Rao
Faculty of Education
MITE, Kohima

2. Analytical Method:
The meaning of the word analysis is to ―separate things that are
together. In this method we start from what is to be found or proved.
Thorndike says that, Analysis is the highest intellectual performance of
the mind.
Analysis also means, ―Breaking up of a given problem, so that it
connects with what is already known. In analysis we proceed from,
Unknown to Known.
 It is derived from the word analysis,
 Its means breaking up.
 It leads to conclusion to hypothesis
 It leads to unknown to known
 It leads to abstract to concrete

3. Merits/Advantages:
 It is a psychological method.
 Facilitates understanding, as we discover facts.
 Each step has reason and justification.
 Student gains confidence and understanding.
 Method suits the learner and the subject.
 It develops the power of thinking and reasoning
 It develops originality and creativity amongst the students.
 In this method student’s participation is encouraged.
 It develops self-confidence and self reliant in the pupil.

4. Demerits:
• It is time consuming and lengthy method, so it is uneconomical.
• Difficult to acquire efficiency and speed.
• Not applicable to all topics.
• Not suitable for students with weak conceptual knowledge.
• Every teacher cannot use this method successfully
Conclusion: So this method is particularly suitable for
teaching of Arithmetic, algebra and Geometry as it analyses the
problem into sub-parts and various parts are reorganized and
the already learnt facts are used to connect the known with
unknown. It puts more stress on reasoning and development of
power of reasoning is one of the major aims of teaching of
mathematics.

5. Synthetic Method:
The word synthesis simply means, ―To place things together or to
join separate parts. It is the process of relating known bits of data to a
point where the unknown becomes true.
To synthesis is to combine the elements to produce something new.
Actually it is reverse of analytic method. In this method we proceed “from
know to unknown.” So in it we combine together a number of facts,
perform certain mathematical operations and arrive at a solution.
That is we start with the known data and connect it with the
unknown part.
• It leads to hypothesis to conclusion
• It leads to known to unknown
• It leads to concrete to abstract

6. Merits:
• It is Short and precise method.
• It Saves time and energy.
• It Suits the needs of majority of the students.
• It Can be applied to a majority of topics in mathematics.
• Omits trial and error as in analysis method.
• Accuracy is developed by the method
Demerits:
 Teacher–centered method, students are passive listeners.
 Students rely on rote memory. (There is a scope for forgetting)
 No opportunity to develop the skills of thinking and reasoning
 Students lack confidence to do other type of sums.
 There is no scope of discovery.
 The recall of each step cannot be possible for every child.

7. Analytic Vs Synthetic
Analytic Method Synthetic Method
Meaning: Analysis means breaking up into
components
Meaning: Synthesis means combining the
elements to get something new.
Leads from:
Unknown to known, Conclusion to hypothesis,
Abstract to concrete, Complex to simple
Leads from:
Known to unknown, Hypothesis to conclusion,
Concrete to abstract, Simple to complex
Method: A method of discovery and thought. A
psychological method
Method: A method for the presentation of
discovered facts. A logical method
Time: Lengthy, laborious and time consuming Time: Short, concise and elegant.
Learning: Encourages meaningful learning Learning: Encourages rote learning
Encourages: Encourages originality of thinking and
reasoning
Encourages: Encourages memory work
Thinking: Process of thinking Thinking: Product of thinking
Participation: Active participation of the learner Participation: Learner is a passive listener
Sequence: Valid reasons to justify every step in the
sequence.
Sequence: No justification for every step in the
sequence.

8. Conclusion:
From the above discussion we can see that both the
methods of analysis and synthesis by themselves have their
advantages and disadvantages. In order to ensure the complete
understanding of mathematics in the learners that both the
methods be used together to teach mathematics. By using a
combination of these two methods the teacher can ensure that
effecting teaching learning takes place.