The problems many students have on the senior high school mathematics functional literacy test in Florida are discussed. Instructional exercises designed to improve students' reading comprehension of word problems are noted, and prototypes of some of the exercises viewed as more useful are provided. (MP)

These exercises explore both square and nonsquare rhombi constructed on dot-paper grids. The materials are designed to provide reinforcement of geometric concepts, construction of figures from their symmetric properties, and discovery of figures related to each other by transformations. Student access to geoboards is encouraged as helpful. (MP)

Two simulation games, which have been shown to be particularly valuable educational resources in the teaching of statistics, are profiled. Such games offer exciting extensions to the resources currently available to the mathematics teacher by enabling the instruction of standard concepts in creative and productive ways. (MP)

Details of an 18-lesson unit of instruction that has been used successfully with eighth-, ninth-, and tenth-grade classes are presented. Each lesson centers around individual computer programs written in Applesoft BASIC. Copies of two programs are provided, and ways to acquire the other 16 are noted. (MP)

An examination of the way banks charge interest based on a 360-day year points out that excess interest may be charged if calculated rates are applied to a 365-day period. (MP)

The following ideas are included: (1) solving a quadratic equation geometrically by completing the square, which helped a class of secondary physics students understand the formulas; and (2) a way of teaching factoring of quadratic trinomials that is based on the behavior of odd and even numerals under addition and multiplication. (MP)

An exploration of a problem called solving quadratic congruences modulo p is detailed and is built around an alternate method of deriving the quadratic formula. Three practical pedagogical values that have been experienced by students and instructor when the material was presented to classes are noted. (MP)

Continued fractions and associated sequences are viewed to constitute a rich area of study for mathematics students, by supporting instruction on algebraic and computational skills, mathematical induction, convergence of sequences, and interpretation of function graphs. An iterative method of approximating square roots opens suggestions for…

A program designed in BASIC for the Apple II computer that uses high resolution graphics to display geometric transformations is described. The four distance-preserving transformations included are translations, rotations, reflections, and glide-reflections. Shape-preserving dilations are also covered. (MP)

High school students are warned against service station fraud. A problem-solving section is designed to help students calculate consumer costs for various fraudulent transactions. Several ways of reducing fraud or of lessening the chances of problems are noted. (MP)

The use of mobiles to illustrate mathematical concepts, some areas for student investigation of the equation for the general form of a line that begins with switching the coefficients, and some examples of indeterminacy of the basic types of limits suitable for beginning students are presented and discussed. (MP)

Presents examples which give large numbers (such as two billion) a common-sense meaning related to daily life. Argues that people's inability to comprehend the reality of large numbers (number numbness) has serious implications for humankind, not unlike illiteracy. (DC)

It has been found that students gain much greater insight into routine calculations with business formulas when such work is viewed in the light of graphing concepts. Ten problems are presented that illustrate how three specific objectives in a unit on graphing in a business mathematics course have been met. (MP)

A programing language called DYNAMO, developed especially for writing simulation models, is promoted. Details of six, self-teaching curriculum packages recently developed for simulation-oriented instruction are provided. (MP)

Several computer games are reviewed with respect to how they might be used within the classroom. The games detailed represent "families" that progress from the introduction of a concept to advanced games that help develop it. (MP)