In order to determine if the syntactic complexity of written mathematical problems influenced students' abilities to solve problems, 45 eighth-grade remedial math students were studied. (PHR)

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)

The central purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of distractions in nonverbal problems on the problem solving behavior and performance of young children (grades 1-3) in 6 schools (N=360). Results indicated 66 percent of the subjects were distracted by irrelevant spatial-numerical or color attribute uses. (JC)

After reviewing several assumptions that support the future ubiquitousness of computers in society and in scholarly research, summarizes three interrelated frameworks for developing instructional computing. (GC)

The article, while focusing on mathematics and problem-solving characteristics, reexamines the definition of "mathematically gifted," and discusses current practices and some areas of concern related to the identification of the mathematically gifted. It also calls for an identification procedure which includes information about qualities of the…

To determine how hard it is for computers to solve problems, researchers have classified groups of problems (polynomial hierarchy) according to how much time they seem to require for their solutions. A difficult and complex proof is offered which shows that a combinatorial approach (using Boolean circuits) may resolve the problem. (JN)

Some findings from research on problem solving are briefly summarized. (MNS)

This paper discusses the role of uncertainty during the early stages of problem solving. It is argued that students start the problem solving activity with some degree of uncertainty that may vary from high to low. This degree of uncertainty may affect students' decisions at early stages of the problem solving process. It may be suggested that an…

Algebra and calculus students have difficulties to express themselves in a statement of mathematical symbols and to comment on written mathematical statements to end with equivalent mathematical symbols statement. In this study, the reasons behind the meaning students load to the mathematical symbols and written mathematical statements was…

A teacher in a large suburban elementary school in East Tennessee found that her fourth grade students had poor number sense and relied almost solely upon algorithmic procedure to solve math problems. Therefore, mental math was difficult for these students, so the daily number talks method was employed to strengthen number sense. However, no…

This collection of stories from a teacher's classroom highlights the problem-solving potential of very young students if they are engaged and challenged from the beginning. Arranged by month of the school year, each of these 10 stories is a suggestion for a classroom lesson. Together the stories provide a comprehensive picture of what can be…

The fundamental opposition of two types of discourse, mathematical proof and argumentation to the problem of validation in mathematics is explored. The naturalistic study of interaction in classrooms suggests the possibility of a mathematical argumentation to which students have access by the practice of discussions ruled by socio-mathematical…

The approximate nature of measurement is stressed, with examples given of elementary school mathematics problems which confuse reality with its mathematical model. Examples relating measurement to mathematical structure are given. (DT)

Examined were differential performances among categories of first graders when solving arithmetical workd problems of eight types under two distinct conditions. The categories were based on various types of quantitative comparisons which children are known to make. Several statistically significant results were obtained involving differences…