Describes a teaching approach that can make the deriving of the volume of a right circular cone a valuable problem-solving activity for upper secondary students. (ASK)

In this article, the author takes up the special trinomial (1 + x + x[squared])[superscript n] and shows that the coefficients of its expansion are entries of a Pascal-like triangle. He also shows how to calculate these entries recursively and explicitly. This article could be used in the classroom for enrichment. (Contains 1 table.)

Based on data released December 3, 2013, from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), this Alliance for Excellent Education report reveals that the United States struggles to produce top performers in reading, math, and science at the rates of its international peers. These students, who the report calls the "deepest…

Functions with a variety of properties (sets of discontinuities, unbounded derivations, etc.) are discussed. (SD)

This paper is an attempt at clarifying the concept of "problem," in order to improve the teaching of problem solving. Four categories are employed in the analysis: formulation, context, solutions, and methods of approach. Examples are included. (MNS)

This report presents information from three special studies conducted as part of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 1996 mathematics assessment. It is intended primarily for mathematics educators and others concerned with mathematics education, such as curriculum specialists, teachers, and university faculty in schools of…

A traveling salesman problem is used to illustrate the key idea in a general proof of a reduction technique. It is reduced to a problem in propositional calculus. (MNS)

The problem "Given three planar points, find a point such that the sum of the distances from that point to the three points is a minimum" is discussed from several points of view. A solution that uses only calculus and geometry is examined in detail. (MNS)

The organization of several mathematics competitions within the United States is described. Sample contest problems are included. (DT)

Presents solutions to the Pumpkin Puzzler problem that appeared in the October 2001 issue of this journal. (Author/NB)

Presents solutions to the Football Frenzy problem that appeared in the November 2001 issue of this journal. (Author/NB)

This paper first defines the bridge club scheduling problem that was presented to the author and then explores the meaning of an optimal solution. Next, an analytical solution is sought based on the classification of the problem as a resolvable partially balanced incomplete block design. Finally, four increasingly sophisticated techniques of…