Quantitative literacy has been recognized as an important skill in the higher education and workforce communities, focusing on problem solving, reasoning, and real-world application. As a result, there is a need by various stakeholders in higher education and workforce communities to evaluate whether college students receive sufficient training on…

Describes the use of programmable calculators in a linear algebra course at the University of Kansas. Reports that these calculators can exploit the opportunities of personal computing and allow students to concentrate on how to apply new mathematical principles to real-world applications. (JRH)

Three calculation methods were compared in solving problems involving frequency distributions, manual, basic calculator, and advanced calculator. Calculators were more efficient but there was no difference in calculator type. (MP)

Statistical problems were used to test the hypothesis that calculators facilitate problem solution by saving time and increasing accuracy. Manual, basic machine and advance machine methods were used. (MP)

Investigated were the effects on computation performance of amount of prepractice and type of calculator, when students were told to work very fast vs very accurately. (MP)

Three calculation methods--handwork, or simple or advanced calculators--and two levels of difficulty--easy or hard--were used to investigate the effects on computational performance. (MP)

Solving statistical problems using a calculator with sophisticated features was compared to solving the same problems by hand. The calculator group was more accurate and took far less time. (MP)

The calculator is used to solve certain formidable equations, which arise naturally and which may be difficult or impossible to solve by standard methods, by a method of successive approximations. (MP)

The study reported is the first in a series of investigations designed to empirically test the hypothesis that calculators reduce quantitative working time and increase computational accuracy, and to examine the relative magnitude of benefit that accompanies utilizing calculators compared to manual work. (MN)

Provides a simple routine which allows first-year physics students to use programmable calculators to solve otherwise complex electrostatic problems. These problems involve finding electrostatic potential and electric field on the axis of a uniformly charged ring. Modest programing skills are required of students. (DH)

Presents compact algorithms, suitable for use with hand held calculators, for the calculation of potentiometric titration curves. (SL)

Presents an exact equation for calculating the volume of titrant as a function of the hydrogen ion concentration suitable for calculation on a hand held calculator. (SL)

A procedure using calculators is described to test Ulam's conjecture that all positive integers converge to 1, if subject to certain iterated transformations. (MNS)

Addresses issues related to the use of microcomputers for solving problems. Includes considerations of the impact of software availability, the nature of software for chemical education, general-purpose software, and dedicated software. (JN)