The famous Birthday Problem is a staple in introductory probability texts and can be stated as follows: What is the probability that at least two persons from "n" randomly chosen persons have the same birthday? In this article, the author suggests an adaptation of the birthday problem which can be repeated in class until the full effect…

Circle Geometry, a senior mathematics topic, is often regarded as time-consuming and associated relational concepts difficult for students to grasp. Units of work that introduce students to circle geometry theorems are frequently described as a string of tedious constructions. This article explores teacher-designed dynamic geometry software…

When the author first used "VisiCalc," the author thought it a very useful tool when he had the formulas. But how could he design a spreadsheet if there was no known formula for the quantities he was trying to predict? A few months later, the author relates he learned to use multiple linear regression software and suddenly it all clicked into…

Understanding the concept of the sampling distribution of a statistic is essential for the understanding of inferential procedures. Unfortunately, this topic proves to be a stumbling block for students in introductory statistics classes. In efforts to aid students in their understanding of this concept, alternatives to a lecture-based mode of…

Identifies some trends in geometry teaching and illustrates them with reference to some of the more common software packages and their application and possible implications for junior high school geometry teaching and learning. (Contains 23 references.) (ASK)

Many students view mathematics as a collection of theorems and facts that were discovered by intelligent mathematicians and all they have left to do is to study them carefully. Some believe it is important to help students change this view (Lavy & Shriki, 2003). One possible way is to enable students to modify the attributes of a given situation,…

Digital photos and digital movies offer an excellent way of bringing real world situations into the mathematics classroom. The technologies surveyed here are feasible for everyday classroom use and inexpensive. Examples are drawn from the teaching of Cartesian coordinates, linear functions, ratio and Pythagoras' theorem using still images, and…

Presents sports-oriented examples (cricket and football) in which Monte Carlo methods are used on microcomputers to teach probability concepts. Both examples include computer programs (with listings) which utilize the microcomputer's random number generator. Instructional strategies, with further challenges to help students understand the role of…

Historical movements in the development of the use of computers in mathematics education are highlighted. The development of more efficient interfaces between users and machines are discussed. Future trends in this area are identified. (CW)