Presents an activity that uses an inexpensive paper plate and a short length of adding machine tape to help students experience the concept of radian measure. Focuses on radian measurement and connects many geometric concepts regarding the circle. (ASK)

Provides an example of the modeling power of Mathematics, demonstrated in a piece of A-Level student coursework which was undertaken as part of the MEI Structured Mathematics scheme. A system of two masses and two springs oscillating in one dimension is found to be accurately modeled by a system of linear differential equations. (Author/ASK)

Outlines a geometry task that uses computers to transform some quadrilaterals into other quadrilaterals. (ASK)

Presents an activity to introduce the concepts of average rate change and instantaneous rate of change of a function and to explore the relationship between the value of the exponential function and its instantaneous rate of change. (ASK)

Discusses the commercial for Skittles candies and asks the question "How many flavor combinations can you find?" Focuses on the modeling for a Skittles exercise which includes a brief outline of the mathematical modeling process. Guides students in the use of the binomial theorem and Pascal's triangle in this activity. (ASK)

Describes ways to examine leaf structure and shape using fractal geometry. Students can test hypotheses using the leaves of replicated plants to look for non-linear trends in leaf shape along the stems of plants, across species, and under different environmental growth conditions. (SAH)

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)

Introduces The Square Thing, a lesson that engages and invites student development of problem solving and reasoning skills, understanding through connections within the content, and mathematics voice. Describes components for successful pedagogy and benefits for students experiencing this and similar mathematics pedagogies. (Author/MM)

Argues that by celebrating the number pi with special mathematical activities we may be teaching the fundamental concept of the place-value structure of our decimal place system. Includes several examples to illustrate the argument. (MM)

Helps students identify the animal that corresponds to the year of their birth according to the Chinese zodiac. Defines the structure of the Chinese zodiac so that the subsets of compatibles and opposites form closed substructures with interesting mathematical properties. (ASK)

Presents an experiment to test the statistical hypothesis that Oreo Double Stuf cookies contain twice as much filling as traditional Oreo cookies. (ASK)

Uses the average-monthly-temperature function as an application of the sine wave. Argues that the attractive aspect of gas bill graphs is that they clearly illustrate that sinusoidal curves are useful and meaningful in an everyday context. (ASK)

Explores the derivation of empirical models for the stopping distance of a car being driven at a range of speeds. Indicates that the calculation of stopping distances makes an excellent example of empirical modeling because it is a situation that is readily understood and particularly relevant to many first-year undergraduates who are learning or…

This collection of community mathematics modules, or "math trail", is appropriate for middle grades and high school students (grades 5-12). Collectively, the modules pay attention to all 10 of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards which include five content standards (Number and Operations, Algebra, Geometry,…

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)