The author recommends the use of flow charting to help students understand the manipulation of algebraic formulae. He identifies some problems with flow charts and suggests an alternative method of constructing flow diagrams. (SD)

A module built around programing the computer is described. It recognizes the need of many children to have algebra introduced in a practical way and to give some concrete meaning to it. (MNS)

Some activities are provided to help students develop a conceptual understanding of perimeter, area, and volume, as well as developing skills in spatial visualization and formulating generalizations. (MNS)

An activity is described as an example of an application that draws on the behavior of current in electrical circuits to create a symbolic algebra. Five worksheets are included, with discussion of their use. (MNS)

Discussed is an approach in which algebra and geometry are interwoven in a series of problems that develop one from another. The two main concepts are the algebraic concept of function and the geometric concept of the "family of quadrilaterals." (MNS)

Reviews CATUSPLOT, a mathematics utility aimed at high school algebra through college-level calculus. Basic program capabilities include plotting, tabulating, integrating, and locating of intersections of functions composed of combinations of polynomial, trigonometric, and exponential functions. Rated excellent on all areas examined…

Formulas for use in computer programs are presented. Two programming applications are discussed: one to ballistics using inverse sine and one to hours of daylight using inverse cosine. (MNS)

This study concerned conceptual difficulties of college students learning programming and ways the teacher can simplify the process. An analysis of general strategies used in solving problems involving loops is given, with four types of hierarchical strategy categorized. Students had difficulty transforming their algebraic descriptions into…

Presented are instructions for activities in which a calculator is used to investigate algebraic concepts. Also presented are short computer programs involving topics taught in prealgebra and an activity in which a trapezoid is transformed into a circle. (JN)

Presents examples which help students think visually about algebraic operations on vectors and the associated mappings of the plane. The pictures help students actively participate in defining new functions by enabling them to compose simpler known functions. Conversely, functions can be factored into the composition of simple functions. (JN)

Reports results obtained when 24 14-year-old students were presented with algebra tasks by a computer-based modeling system and, four months later, comparable paper and pencil tests together with detailed interviews. Comparison of the results revealed profound misunderstandings of algebraic notation and identified classes of strategies used by…

The Mathematics Attribution Scale-Algebra (MAS) was designed to assess attributions to ability, effort, task, and environment for success or failure in algebra. The study examined the reliability and validity of the MAS with high ability high school students. Results present a complicated picture of the psychometric properties of the MAS. (Author)

This paper describes the procedures and results of two studies designed to yield empirical comparisons of the error magnitude in three change measures: the simple gain score, the residualized difference score, and the base free measure (Tucker et al). Residualized scores possessed smaller standard errors of measurement. (Author/BS)

Methods of finding algebraic expressions to fit number patterns are explored. (DT)

Presented is an interview with Mohamed Seddik Benyahia, Algerian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, in which Algerian objectives in educational and scientific development are outlined. (SL)