// focusing on what the operations do rather than why //
YMMV, of course, but in general, I always found it easier to understand the why once I understood the what and the how, rather than the other way around.
Yes. Usually, though, when someone complains about the teaching of mathematics they say we focus too much on how to do the operations and not enough on why they work the way they do. I agree it is much easier to understand why after knowing how.
YMMV, of course, but in general, I always found it easier to understand the why once I understood the what and the how, rather than the other way around.