In this article, a mathematics teacher educator presents an activity designed to pique the interest of prospective secondary mathematics teachers who may doubt the value of learning abstract algebra for their chosen profession. Herein, he contemplates: what "is" intended by the widespread requirement that high school mathematics teachers…

Provides activities that support students as they develop their intuitive notions of graphs. Activities help students describe the relationships expressed in the graphs and make generalizations about inferences on the basis of the visual image. (ASK)

Takes the concept of using a geometrical or visual approach to teach algebraic concepts and extends it to connect with the section on binomial expansion by using three dimensional objects. (ASK)

Describes the use of an application for TI-83 and TI-92 calculators called the Symbolic Math Guide (SMG) for teaching and learning the laws of exponents in algebra. Discusses ways in which the SMG can be used for teaching, review, and testing. (MM)

Presents a lesson to teach matrices that emphasizes conceptual understanding and allows students to extend their investigations into important and relevant situations by using graphing calculators after important conceptual understanding has been developed. (KHR)

Discusses the benefits of new technologies, especially graphing calculators, in the teaching and learning of mathematics. Presents two activities for teaching algebra and regression using graphing calculators. (ASK)

This paper consists of a learning unit for college algebra in which the problem presents three different payment plans for a tuition plan to pay for college expenses. The details of each payment plan are presented, each followed by several exercises so that comparisons of the results can be made across payment plans. (MM)

This book consists of a series of activities aimed at providing a problem solving, hands-on approach so that students can experience concepts in algebra. Topics include ratio and proportion, patterns and formulas, integers, polynomials, linear equations, graphs, and probability. The activities come in the form of reproducible blackline masters…

This book was written as a resource for middle and high school teachers hoping to ease their students' transition to algebra. Drawing on experiences with three professional development programs, key "habits of thinking" that characterize the successful learning and use of algebra are outlined. Strategies teachers can use to cultivate…

Presents five guided activities that use a graphing calculator to help students discover the fundamental theorem of algebra. Includes student worksheets and illustrates solutions. (KHR)

Provides classroom suggestions for combining numerical, algebraic, and geometric techniques with the understanding of a simple method for computing square roots. Historical origins of the method illustrate the debt owed to ancient minds living in what are now India, Pakistan, Iraq, and Egypt. (Author/NB)

Presents four related problems that provide examples of ways to include justifications of interesting mathematics in courses taught prior to a geometry course. (ASK)

Produces algebraic solutions by reducing the problems to equations and arithmetic solutions that do not use variables. Investigates how the arithmetic solution helps students better understand the problem before they approach it algebraically and how logic used in solving the problem arithmetically can be directly linked to the algebraic…

Presents and discusses examples that can be used to develop the concept of slope as a rate of change through three modes of learning: (1) visualization, (2) verbalization, and (3) symbolization. (ASK)

Computer algebra systems have great potential uses, but learning the basic concepts of algebra is itself a mathematical activity. Explores theoretical concepts that may be seen as essential enabling skills for computer algebra systems users. (Author/ASK)