Three studies involving 44 learning-disabled junior high students assessed the impact of strategy instruction in individual, small group, and whole class instruction in one knowledge domain: algebra. The three studies are contrasted, outcome data are compared, and the issue of generality-specificity in strategy instruction is examined. (JDD)

Discusses the need to consider the cognitive models of students and their learning processes when designing computer tutorials, and describes a tutorial designed to teach students how to generate algebraic equations for story problems. Testing and revisions of the tutorial, with both college and high school students are described. (14 references)…

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)

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)

Describes how graphing calculators can be used to explore different functions, from linear to higher degree polynomials. "Globs" (circles) are drawn around randomly plotted points on the screen, and students devise functions that pass through as many of these globs as possible. Variations on the game are also mentioned. (DPM)

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)

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)

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)

Presents a simple mathematical model in which resultant speed is the sum or difference between wind speed and runner speed and a more complex model that assumes that only a proportion of the wind's speed affects one's running speed to describe the time difference between running with and without wind. (MDH)

Investigated the upper limits of (n=22) seventh-grade students' informal processes in solving first degree equations in one unknown prior to instruction. Results indicated the existence of a cognitive gap between arithmetic and algebra characterized as the students' inability to operate spontaneously with or on the unknown. (37 references)…

Female tenth graders (n=217) were less likely than male tenth graders (n=219) to identify missing or irrelevant information in algebra problems. Female eleventh graders (n=234) were less likely than male eleventh graders (n=287) to solve problems with irrelevant information. Results indicate sex differences in knowledge of problem structure. (SLD)

Among 1,453 male and 1,133 female academically talented 7- to 11-year-old students, boys performed better overall than girls on mathematical reasoning. Gender differences appeared as early as second grade, varying according to mathematics subskills. Male performance was better on tasks requiring application of algebraic rules and understanding of…

The effect of multiple-choice (MC) or open-ended (OE) response format on diagnostic assessment of algebra test performance was investigated with 231 eighth and ninth graders in Tel Aviv (Israel) using bug or rule space analysis. Both analyses indicated closer similarity between parallel OE subsets than between stem-equivalent OE and MC subsets.…

This review of the introductory instructional substance of functions and graphs analyzes research on the interpretation and construction tasks associated with functions and some of their representations (algebraic, tabular, and graphical). The nature of learning is analyzed in terms of intuitions and misconceptions. (TJH)