Offers practical tips on teaching secondary mathematics topics. The ideas are classroom-tested approaches that offer new slants on familiar subjects. The topics discussed include the interpretation of mathematical symbolism in concrete terms, ellipses, and vectors. (PK)

One method (attributed to Archimedes) of approximating pi offers a simple yet interesting introduction to one of the basic ideas of numerical analysis, an iteration sequence. The method is described and elaborated. (PK)

Describes a study of the use of certain curriculum materials (SMP 11-16) with a third-year class of low attainers in mathematics. The study involved classroom observation and a student questionnaire. It was concluded that the materials were at least partially successful. (PK)

Describes the theory and known influences on learned helplessness, particularly in the mathematics field, and discusses prevention and remediation with respect to this phenomenon. (PK)

Reports on a study to determine if having students write about the work required in doing three types of exercises from elementary algebraic fractions would affect the students' error patterns on quizzes. The study involved six developmental studies in elementary algebra classes. (PK)

This study investigated the performance of 14 Hispanic and Anglo ninth graders on several problem-solving tasks, with the focus on the interplay of language-related factors in translating several mathematical statements expressing relationships among variables into mathematical equations. (MNS)

Suggested are investigations of rational numbers and their decimal representations where a computer generates the data for explorations. Conjectures and two program listings are included. (MNS)

Findings are reported from an intensive study of 10 students over three school years spanning the transition from primary to secondary school. Detailed test, interview, and observational data were analyzed to examine the impact of secondary school and secondary school mathematics on the mathematical behavior of the 10 students. (JN)

Discusses major unresolved issues in mathematics education today, focusing on computers, higher standards, and proposed changes in the college curriculum. Also offers eight predictions for the future, indicating that computers will not replace mathematics teachers and that calculus will no longer be the unique goal of college preparatory…

To help students develop measurement skills using metric units, an activity on making a box is described, with a worksheet for students. A second article discusses graphing elementary functions with a real domain, while a third article describes computer-assisted practice in graphing sine and cosine functions. (MNS)

Discusses the development of problem-oriented mathematics materials for a wide variety of students. Materials include teaching guides, student materials, case studies in mathematical modeling, and project activities. Examples of these materials (including a sports-related activity for students who have not had success in mathematics) are provided.…

Presents research on cognitive skills demanded by elementary and secondary school mathematics textbooks, based on an original 10-level classification of thinking activities; reports a general decline both in the amount of material demanding student involvement and in the percentage of that material requiring higher-order thinking. (MCG)

A real-life problem involving a greenskeeper needing to know the area of golf greens is presented, with solutions using a scale drawing, Maple's methods, and Heron's formula. Methods are checked with a computer and discussed mathematically. Three computer program listings are included. (MNS)

Reviews the findings from two international studies of mathematics achievement that have been conducted over the past 20 years. The majority of twelth-grade, college-bound American students scored among the lowest quarter of countries in the latest study. Includes tables and graphs. (MD)

With a standard geoboard, five pegs by five pegs, how many different triangles can be formed using a single rubber band with the pegs serving as vertices? Discusses ways to solve this problem and offers related problems and some pedagogical considerations (particularly for the teaching of geometry and problem solving). (JN)