Domino games are used to illustrate problem-solving techniques in a college principles-of-mathematics course. Students develop tables and use Pascal's triangle to find the total number of pips and the sum of numbers on the pieces. (DC)

The author suggests that spreadsheet computer programs can be an effective tool in the mathematics classroom. In addition to being used to solve many real-world problems, spreadsheets can be used to promote understanding of concepts and principles from geometry, algebra, and trigonometry. (PK)

This set of activity sheets requires students to organize and display data with a box-and-whiskers graph. Students use the plot as a summary display to detect patterns and to highlight the important features of the data for purposes of comparison. (PK)

Reviews the findings of a Maryland study concerning the effects of gender and race on mathematics achievement. Cites parental and teacher attitudes as major factors in student achievement. Discusses the differences between girls' and boys' performance on standardized tests. (CW)

Presents an activity to introduce students to the intrinsic curvature of surfaces using a wide variety of objects. Describes student discoveries, several variations on the project, and possible classroom discussion topics. A reproducible student worksheet and 17 references are included. (MKR)

Discusses research findings related to students' ability to make connections between analytical (symbolic) and graphical representations of functions in calculus. Describes graphing tasks and typical student interpretations. Implications for teaching are suggested. (Contains 17 references.) (MKR)

Presents a series of 5 reproducible worksheets for grade levels 5-10 that provide hands-on activities to help develop the concept of slope. (MDH)

Causal attributions for success and failure in science, mathematics, and English were studied with intellectually gifted secondary school students (n=30) and their nongifted siblings (n=32). For success in science, siblings had significantly higher effort and strategy attribution scores, and lower task easiness attribution scores than did gifted…

Shared are personal experiences in the development and implementation of cooperative learning methods in the mathematics classroom. Presented are methods to begin team building, teach social skills, and promote improved learning results. Benefits include greater student participation, interstudent communication, higher-order thinking, and teacher…

P-adic or g-adic sets are sets of elements formed by linear combinations of powers of p, a prime number, or g, a counting number, where the coefficients are whole numbers less than p or g. Discusses exercises illustrating basic numerical operations for p-adic and g-adic sets. Provides BASIC computer programs to verify the solutions. (MDH)

Presents the hierarchical structure of quadrilaterals as an illustration of learning a geometric concept by moving from the levels of visualization and analysis to the level of formal deduction. The development discusses the classification of quadrilaterals, the inheritance of properties within the hierarchy, connections between algebra and…

Presents a hands-on mathematics task that can be investigated experimentally to produce a sequence of numbers. Describes ways to extrapolate values of the table of numbers by formulating and verifying a conjecture related to the pattern in the numbers. (MDH)

Described is a mathematics resource laboratory where students use a variety of computer materials to enhance, reinforce, and broaden their concepts of first- and second-year algebra and geometry. Included are sample laboratory sheets and the answers. (KR)

This article traces the history of zero and its dual role as a placeholder, albeit of empty space, and as a number for computational purposes. The use of one symbol for both situations is shown to be tied to the adoption, and subsequent promulgation, of our modern numbering system. (JJK)

Introduces the concept of maximum and minimum function values as turning points on the function's graphic representation and presents a method for finding these values without using calculus. The process of utilizing transformations to find the turning point of a quadratic function is extended to find the turning points of cubic functions. (MDH)