Totalling Up Numbers
One thing that i have always found difficult to learn (or more accurately, too lazy to practice) was to learn how to use the number pad.
It was only when i noticed colleagues tapping away at long chain of digits, totalling up numbers with ease like a master abacus user, that i was motivated to try and learn the numbers pad again. This time with a bit more persistency and practice than the past attempts.
Unfortunately, there were not many available resources where i could just total up numbers as a form of practice lesson, so i created one, this number tally typing page.
Number Typing For Business
This number typing test allows you to practice summing up a long list of numbers.
You can work with tallying for additions, subtraction, divisions, multiplications or a combination of all four basic arithmetic operations.
It is relatively easy to master and fairly intuitive as long as you learn the correct hand positions in the
typing numbers lesson.
With a little patience and practice (minus the procrastination) totalling numbers and using the number pad in general was much easier than i had expected. I am surprised at why i put it off for so long!
Learning to tally list of numbers is a very transferable skill that will go well on any Resume or CV. Especially if you work with numbers e.g.
accountancy, finance, book keeping, scientific roles etc (just to name a few). You will find its use even more valuable if you work with Excel or spreadsheets as it is the standard office application for crunching large lists of figures.
Remember to keep the middle finger (
R3) on the number pad's designated
Home Key (i.e. key number
5 in the centre).
Do not confuse this with the actual 'HOME' key which deals with page and line scrolling for the cursor position used in text editors.
If you find that the numbers are not showing up when you type and instead the up/down/left/right arrow keys are being invoked, then you probably have not toggle your
Num Lock on.
The number lock key (Num Lock) is usually just above the number keys. Toggling it on forces all keys typed on the numbers pad to be numbers or operators (+-/*) instead of their alternative functions.
Keep those fingers relaxed and take a rest if your hands or fingers gets numb or tense. Good luck with the practice tests!