Despite repeated discussions and practice, algebra students continue to make variable errors, in many ways, year after year. This same problem appeared thirty years ago in a list of common errors that math teachers today would immediately recognize, many involving exponents and distribution (Marquis 1988). Similar complaints even appeared in the…

Learning to play tennis is difficult. It takes practice, but it also helps to have a coach--someone who gives tips and pointers but allows the freedom to play the game on one's own. Learning to act like a mathematician is a similar process. Students report that the process of proving the inscribed angle theorem is challenging and, at times,…

Many students find proofs frustrating, and teachers struggle with how to help students write proofs. In fact, it is well documented that most students who have studied proofs in high school geometry courses do not master them and do not understand their function. And yet, according to NCTM's "Principles and Standards for School Mathematics"…

Describes constructivism as an educational theory promoted by the National Council of Teachers of Education (NCTM), the ideals of NCTM's standards, the validity of NCTM's approach, and the research behind NCTM's recommendations. Includes examples of what teachers can do to promote student construction of knowledge in the classroom and resources…

Techniques are suggested for preparing practice exercises in algebra and trigonometry. (JP)

Describes a laboratory-type activity, liquid assets, used to illustrate, develop, or reinforce central concepts in first-year algebra. These include linear function, slope, intercept, and dependent and independent variables. Presents a group activity for collecting data, transition from group to individual activity in plotting data points, and…

Describes computation of a continued radical to approximate the golden ratio and presents two well-known geometric interpretations of it. Uses guided-discovery to investigate different repeated radicals to see what values they approximate, the golden-rectangle interpretation of these continued radicals, and the golden-section interpretation. (KHR)

Describes an investigation of polygons and their properties in which students apply very basic understandings of geometric properties. (KHR)

Reports findings from the team teaching of a course in mathematical problem solving designed for secondary and community college teachers to clarify the concept of ."ecessary and sufficient" conditions. Discusses assigned problems and students' incorrect interpretations. Student interpretations showed how simple mistakes can often lead to rich…

Presents Grabiner's Use-Discover-Explore-Define (UDED) paradigm as a tool for a teachers' own acquisition of authentic historical accounts of the evolution of mathematical topics and as a pedagogical stratagem for their students as well. (KHR)

Reviews the use of chi-square statistics for goodness of fit. Examines how to help students relate their earlier work with independence to the use of chi-square statistics. (KHR)

Discussed is why students have the tendency to apply an "add the numerators and add the denominators" approach to adding fractions. Suggested is providing examples exemplifying this intuitive approach from ratio, concentration, and distance problems to demonstrate under what conditions it is applicable in contrast to the addition algorithm. (MDH)

Described is an alternative first year algebra program developed to bridge the gap between the NCTM's Curriculum and Evaluation Standards and institutional demands of schools. Increased attention is given to graphing as a context for algebra, calculator use, solving "memorable problems," and incorporating geometry concepts, while…