The long-running debate over whether students should be allowed to wield calculators during mathematics exams may soon seem quaint. The latest dilemma facing professors is whether to let students turn to a Web site called WolframAlpha, which not only solves complex math problems, but also can spell out the steps leading to those solutions. In…

Using data from the 2005 National Assessment of Educational Progress, students' use of calculators in the learning of high school mathematics was profiled based on their family background, curriculum background, and advanced mathematics coursework. A statistical method new to educational research--classification and regression trees--was applied…

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the modeling of technology by mathematics professors in two universities in teaching required courses for secondary level pre-service mathematics teachers. Six professors participated in this case study. Their responses were documented in pre- and post-interviews and data were gathered from…

In this article, the authors discuss the importance of unexpected graphs as a vehicle for encouraging critical classroom dialogue. By examining such graphs more critically, teachers and their students can reexamine beliefs about the authority of technology in their classrooms. (Contains 15 figures.)

Calculus at the secondary school level has traditionally represented the peak of school mathematics in Australia, and has been available only to the most capable students. Until recently, many calculus curricula have focused on developing standard techniques, such as those concerned with differentiation and integration, with an emphasis on…

The solutions of the discrete logistic growth model based on a difference equation and the continuous logistic growth model based on a differential equation are compared and contrasted. The investigation is conducted using a dynamic interactive spreadsheet. (Contains 5 figures.)

MATLAB is a powerful package for numerical computation. MATLAB contains a rich pool of mathematical functions and provides flexible plotting functions for illustrating mathematical solutions. The course of calculus-based business mathematics consists of two major topics: 1) derivative and its applications in business; and 2) integration and its…

This paper focuses on using technology to support mathematics instruction. Technologies such as computers and calculators are widely used in the teaching of mathematics. The educators advocate the use of these tools to reduce tiresome computations and tasks so that class time can be more effectively used for learning mathematics. The purpose of…

Calculators used widely by students, teachers, scientists, engineers and many others provide an interesting case study of a compelling technology that has helped change the way many professionals work. They not only help in enhancing problem solving skills of most individuals, but also help visualise solutions to problems in a better way. Research…

Ways of using the calculator as a vehicle for investigating one aspect of the square root concept are illustrated. (MK)

Included are a detailed example of a calculator demonstration, the general principles to be followed in preparing a calculator demonstration, a list of demonstration topics for a calculus course, and some suggested topics for other courses. (MK)

In this work, we present an algorithm for computing logarithms of positive real numbers, that bears structural resemblance to the elementary school algorithm of long division. Using this algorithm, we can compute successive digits of a logarithm using a 4-operation pocket calculator. The algorithm makes no use of Taylor series or calculus, but…

A method is presented for determining cube roots on a calculator with square root facility that has a rapid rate of convergence. (MP)

Several examples are given of a variety of nonstandard problems, not ordinarily found in texts or courses, now accessible to students who have programmable calculators. These include: (1) finding limits; (2) evaluating infinite series; (3) calculating finite series; (4) computing variable length products; (5) solving equations; (6) searching for…

The Cockcroft Report on English Schools recommends that all schools design their syllabuses and examinations on the assumption that all students will have access to calculators. How to use calculators sensibly to improve what is taught and how curriculum content may change are discussed. (MNS)