The modern era of professional baseball playoffs began in 1903, when the champions of the American League and the National League played the first World Series. Except for one year, 1904, this playoff system was maintained until 1969. Beginning in 1969, each of the two leagues in Major League Baseball (MLB) was divided into two divisions to…

Part of the power of algebra is that it provides students with tools that they can use to model a variety of problems and applications. Such modeling requires them to understand patterns and choose from a variety of representations--numeric, graphical, symbolic--to construct a model that accurately reflects the relationships found in the original…

This article describes several methods from discrete mathematics used to simulate and solve an interesting problem occurring at a holiday gift exchange. What is the probability that two people will select each other's names in a random drawing, and how does this result vary with the total number of participants? (Contains 5 figures.)

A problem illustrating how physics and mathematics complement one another when analyzing problems of the physical world is described. (JT)

Presents an activity in which the subject is the identity of the team in the greatest jeopardy of becoming the big loser in a basketball tournament. Explores several facts about the big loser, offering them in a hierarchy appropriate for creating various short- and long-term projects for a high school mathematics class. (ASK)

Queuing theory is explored by considering a simple example and by simulation with a computer. Sample BASIC computer programs are included. (DT)

Presents an activity that utilizes the mathematical models of forest fires and oil spills that were generated (in the first part of this activity, published in the November 1998 issue) by students using probability and cellular automata. (ASK)

The similarity between two apparently dissimilar problems is explored. Pascal's triangle is involved. (SD)

Analyzing the effects of tilting a probability board can be an effective method of introducing a discussion of models in a probability class. (SD)

Provides mathematical activities in reproducible formats appropriate for students in grades 7-12. The objective is to practice using area models in analyzing compound situations and calculating the expected value or long-term average. (PK)

The activity uses an area model to analyze probabilities associated with games of chance. Three activity sheets are included, with teaching suggestions. (MNS)

A computer program is presented which simulates the classical probability machine, using Applesoft II high-resolution graphics. Many variables are left to the user's choosing. Suggestions for using the machine, understanding the problem, the mathematical model, and further program documentation are given. (MNS)

Monte Carlo methods are used to simulate activities in baseball such as a team's "hot streak" and a hitter's "batting slump." Student participation in such simulations is viewed as a useful method of giving pupils a better understanding of the probability concepts involved. (MP)

The principles of modern genetics are extended to study the extinction probabilities of such genetic diseases as sickle-cell anemia, Tay-Sachs disease, and cystic fibrosis. (JT)