This study investigates prospective elementary and secondary school mathematics teachers' ways of reasoning about differentiability at a point and corner points while working on a mathematical modelling activity. Adopting a multiple-case study design, the participants of the study were 68 prospective elementary school mathematics teachers enrolled…

This paper replicates and extends my earlier work on productive failure in mathematical problem solving (Kapur, doi:10.1007/s11251-009-9093-x, 2009). One hundred and nine, seventh-grade mathematics students taught by the same teacher from a Singapore school experienced one of three learning designs: (a) traditional lecture and practice (LP), (b)…

Inequalities are considered among the most useful tools of investigation in pure and applied mathematics; yet their didactical aspects have not received much attention in mathematics education research until recently. An important aspect of teaching problem solving at the secondary level deals with the notion of equivalence of algebraic…

Procedures to help algebra students solve problems more efficiently are discussed, using linear programing graphs. (MNS)

Suggests that before secondary principals can deal effectively with discipline problems, they should graph disciplinary incidents according to the school calendar in order to identify peak behavioral problem periods. (JG)

Explores strategies in the situation of a runner trying to evade a tackler on a football field. Enables the student to test intuitive strategies in a familiar situation using simple graphical and numerical methods or direct experimentation. (JRH)

Described is how the crumpling of paper balls exhibits the concept of a topological dimension similar to fractals. The mass of the crumpled paper ball is found to be proportional to its diameter raised to a nonintegral power. (KR)

An exercise which relates particle scattering and the calculation of cross-sections to answer the following question--"Do you get wetter by walking or running through the rain?"--is described. The calculations used to answer the question are provided. (KR)

Intuition in mathematics is essential but it must be based on good knowledge of mathematics. An example related to velocity, time, and area is presented and discussed, with models, visual approaches, and geometric arguments noted. (Author/KM)

Given is an example of the solution of maximum-minimum problems by replacing differentiation techniques with microcomputers and simple BASIC programs. (MNS)

This article presents problems to challenge students over and above the standard curriculum problems assigned at a Course I level. Every additional problem in the article can be solved using only the tools provided by Course I. (AIM)

Algebra, an important skill, provides a way to represent situations so they can be analyzed carefully. In the new algebra classroom, students will listen and talk to one another while learning to understand problems and devise solutions. Teachers will organize tasks (involving graphing, rating, and ranking techniques) to help students discover the…

Reports, in French, an investigation on the use of graphic representations in problem-solving tasks of the type in Spanish Mathematical Olympiads. Analysis showed that the choice and interpretation of the first graphic representation played a decisive role in the discovery of the solution. (34 references) (Author/MKR)

It has been found that students gain much greater insight into routine calculations with business formulas when such work is viewed in the light of graphing concepts. Ten problems are presented that illustrate how three specific objectives in a unit on graphing in a business mathematics course have been met. (MP)

An alternative application of logarithms in the high school algebra curriculum that is not undermined by the existence and widespread availability of calculators is presented. The importance and use of linear relationships are underscored in the proposed lessons. (MP)