The crucial moment to change the speed setting on a VCR serves as the problem in which linear equations are used. (MNS)

A lawn-mowing problem is discussed in terms of clarifying the problem; making initial conjectures; experimenting; developing a solution; and supporting formulas, theorems, and corollaries. (MNS)

Presents concluding remarks to a symposium, "The Social Organization of Knowledge and Practice." Focuses on high aptitude of persons in everyday situations to solve problems and make decisions. Addresses three questions: (1) What happens when a problem-solver reaches a situation involving calculation? (2) How does learning transfer take place? and…

Briefly examines the components of mathematical problem solving instruction, suggests seven guidelines for computer assisted instruction software in mathematical problem solving, and examines three commercially available examples of such software. (MBR)

Activities are given for solving verbal subtraction problems. Take-away and comparison situations are described, and three levels of activities to model the situations are given: one involving concrete materials and verbal descriptions; the second with these plus written symbols; and the third encouraging mental images. (MNS)

How physicians turn the data from tests and evaluations of patients into information useful for medical action is described. This is an important application of the distance formula. (MNS)

NASA CONNECT is an annual series of integrated mathematics, science, and technology instructional distance learning programs for students in grades 6-8. This program is designed for students to learn about the evolution of flight. The program has three components--television broadcast, Web activity, and lesson guide--which are designed as an…

The University of South Carolina at Hilton Head offers a major in Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Administration (HRTA). Many students in the HRTA major take both the HRTA Tourism course and a business calculus course. An interdisciplinary research project was designed in an effort to interest these students in the power of calculus as a…

The easy availability and popularity of newspapers enhance their use in the classroom. The material presented is grouped under: (1) "Comparative Shopping and Estimation Activities"; (2) "Buying and Furnishing Houses"; and (3) "Graphing, Probability, and Statistics." Teachers are encouraged to consider such applications in involving pupils in…

The pendulum and balance beam were studied. The principal question addressed was whether students could substantially and quickly benefit from a teaching strategy explicitly designed to promote transfer. About half the subjects could acquire in brief time a procedure for transferring knowledge to novel tasks. (MP)

Eleven questions, primarily dealing with the structure of the human body, are presented. In addition to a question on calculation of age in days, hours, minutes, and seconds, there are problems on the muscles, and the respiratory, circulatory, and skeletal systems. Answers to general questions are provided. (MP)

Three closely related problems are presented, which can be solved using only the formula for circumference. It is felt the solving of these genuine problems with the mathematical tools at their command should give pupils a feeling of power and accomplishment and a sense that mathematics is a useful subject. (MP)

Details of a course on mathematical modeling for graduate teachers of mathematics are presented. The rationale, objectives, course content, assessment methods are discussed along with several illustrative examples and difficulties encountered in finding appropriate problems. (MP)

A model of competition probabilities using past performances of competitors against common opponents is constructed. Application to predicting victories in athletic competitions is also reviewed. (MP)