A pair of experiments, appropriate for the lower division fourth semester calculus or differential equations course, are presented. The second order differential equation representing the equation of motion of a simple pendulum is derived. The period of oscillation for a particular pendulum can be predicted from the solution to this equation. As a…

The Greek mathematician, Pythagoras, was among the first to undertake a mathematical study of music. His work, resulted in a scale of notes which can produce beautiful melodies and which is easily reproduced in the elementary classroom. In an age when teachers look for an interdisciplinary connection between various aspects of the curriculum, in a…

The general question examined by this study was whether the tendency of subjects to ignore the known score in giving the best guess for a sample mean was due to a descriptive heuristic such as representativeness or to a mechanistic one such as active balancing. Two experiments were conducted. In Experiment 1, subjects estimated: (1) the mean of a…

The purpose of this text is to teach learning and understanding of mathematics at grades seven through nine through the use of science experiments. Previous knowledge of science on the part of students or teachers is not necessary. The text is designed to be usable with any mathematics textbook in common use. The material can be covered in three…

This book is intended as a demonstration that a variety of interesting problems suitable for use in the school mathematics experience of everyperson can be fabricated from available sources. It is intended to be illustrative rather than exhaustive. The problems in the book are intended to be accessible to children by the middle school years. The…

A particular shot on a pool table is analyzed using the concept of similar triangles, to introduce the equivalence of the "incident-reflection" principle and the "minimum-distance" principle. (CR)

Described are the text materials "The Computer - Yours Obediently," developed for a course in computer appreciation. (SD)

Presented is a set of metric education materials developed over a five-year period by the Science and Mathematics Teaching Center (SMTC) at the University of Wyoming. It is called a "Metric Smorgasbord" because it is a set of materials which have considerable variety, were planned to appear to a broad range of instructional tastes, and permit…

The emphasis is on so-called "best solution" problems to questions that frequently arise in practical situations, such as finding an answer for the least amount of time, greatest volume, least amount of work, maximum profit, and minimum cost. One of this module's purposes is to help users become acquainted with the types of calculations necessary…

This document contains three modules. The first of these examines applications of algebra to geometry. It is designed to teach students how to algebraically characterize points which may be constructed with a compass and straight edge, and how to use this characterization to obtain classical geometric nonconstructibility results. The second unit…

It is shown that empirical mental test P - P plots are approximately equal to theoretical item-item curves, at least for long tests administered to many people. This result is important because it leads to (1) a distribution free method for estimating points on item-item curves; (2) a general method for defining estimates of item parameters; and…

Unfortunately, a barrier between English and mathematics exists, and it is maintained by separating the two disciplines in educational curricula. This paper addresses the need to integrate mathematics and composition instruction, focusing on the effective use of mathematical notation as a tool that students can use to present ideas clearly and…

This is one in a series of SMSG supplementary and enrichment pamphlets for high school students. This series makes available expository articles which appeared in a variety of mathematical periodicals. Topics covered include: (1) the nature of mathematics; (2) mathematical inutility and the advance of science; and (3) logic. (MP)

This is one in a series of SMSG supplementary and enrichment pamphlets for high school students. This series makes available expository articles which appeared in a variety of mathematical periodicals. Topics covered include: (1) is there an infinity; (2) infinity and its presentation at the high school level; (3) the hierarchy of infinities and…