Discusses the rationale behind the technique of rationalizing the denominator in algebra. Argues that the importance of this technique is greatly exaggerated and is usually unnecessary. Examines an appropriate application of rationalizing the denominator. (ASK)

Presents an activity to investigate physico-mathematical concepts and provide mathematics arguments that are very close to a proof with the advent and availability of powerful technology. Demonstrates without using calculus how the law of reflection for parabolas is derived from Fermat's principle of least time. (ASK)

Explores the relative strengths and weaknesses of the spreadsheet approach versus specialized mathematical programming software for solving a particular logic puzzle. (KHR)

Introduces a model of differential equations for students--a very real overpopulation problem is occurring in the Ndumu Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, where one species of antelope, the Nyala, is crowding out another species, the Bushbuck. Constructs a competing species model to mathematically describe what is occurring in Ndumu.…

Adds a cropping or harvesting term to the animal overpopulation model developed in Part I of this article. Investigates various harvesting strategies that might suggest a solution to the overpopulation problem without actually culling any animals. (ASK)

Discusses Monte Carlo methods, powerful and useful techniques that rely on random numbers to solve deterministic problems whose solutions may be too difficult to obtain using conventional mathematics. Reviews two excellent candidates for the application of Monte Carlo methods. (ASK)

The subject matter presented in this article can be used in the classroom to enrich the learning experience of students taking a course that includes a unit on combinatorics, such as discrete mathematics, graph theory, or probability. In order to provide such students with the background needed to appreciate the significance of the generalization…

Discusses an old technique going back to Euler for accelerating the convergence of an alternating series. Uses a computer algebra system such as Derive, Maple, or Mathematica to implement this method called Eulerization. Argues that investigations using this technique will improve a student's understanding of infinite series. (ASK)

Promotes the use of logistic modeling in high school and early college mathematics, to compare this model to commonly used models, and to give an alternative to the TI-83 built-in logistic-regression key method when that method fails to converge or gives an inappropriate model. (ASK)

Presents two programs for the TI-83 to conduct the chi-square goodness-of-fit test in an elementary statistics course or any other course that might require students to conduct hypothesis tests relative to some frequency distribution. (ASK)

Presents a simple method for estimating the volatility of stock prices and uses a spreadsheet to apply the method to actual stock prices. This method is an application of parameter estimation and can be used in an introductory statistics course. (KHR)