A lawn-mowing problem is discussed in terms of clarifying the problem; making initial conjectures; experimenting; developing a solution; and supporting formulas, theorems, and corollaries. (MNS)

Presents concluding remarks to a symposium, "The Social Organization of Knowledge and Practice." Focuses on high aptitude of persons in everyday situations to solve problems and make decisions. Addresses three questions: (1) What happens when a problem-solver reaches a situation involving calculation? (2) How does learning transfer take place? and…

Briefly examines the components of mathematical problem solving instruction, suggests seven guidelines for computer assisted instruction software in mathematical problem solving, and examines three commercially available examples of such software. (MBR)

Activities are given for solving verbal subtraction problems. Take-away and comparison situations are described, and three levels of activities to model the situations are given: one involving concrete materials and verbal descriptions; the second with these plus written symbols; and the third encouraging mental images. (MNS)

This literature review on chemometrics (covering December 1981 to December 1983) is organized under these headings: personal supermicrocomputers; education and books; statistics; modeling and parameter estimation; resolution; calibration; signal processing; image analysis; factor analysis; pattern recognition; optimization; artificial…

How physicians turn the data from tests and evaluations of patients into information useful for medical action is described. This is an important application of the distance formula. (MNS)

In response to the recommendation that teachers incorporate more statistics into their mathematics classes, this paper offers several ways in which students can work with real data. Among the ideas included are their birthdays. Having the students generate a data set that includes their month of birth, exact time of birth, day of the month, and…

NASA CONNECT is an annual series of integrated mathematics, science, and technology instructional distance learning programs for students in grades 6-8. This program is designed for students to learn about the evolution of flight. The program has three components--television broadcast, Web activity, and lesson guide--which are designed as an…

Computer algebra systems (CAS) have now become much more readily accessible for use in secondary school mathematics on both hand-held and computer platforms. While the initial focus of work with CAS from the early 1980's has generally been with respect to pedagogical and curriculum issues, as familiarity with CAS in senior secondary mathematics…

The University of South Carolina at Hilton Head offers a major in Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Administration (HRTA). Many students in the HRTA major take both the HRTA Tourism course and a business calculus course. An interdisciplinary research project was designed in an effort to interest these students in the power of calculus as a…

The author argues that for the non-mathematics oriented student, the basic mathematics course should be culturally-oriented rather than remedial. An educational and an instructional model are presented. Emphasis is placed on acquisition, retention, and transfer of understanding the role of mathematics in society. Illustrative examples are…

Describes the teaching of geodesic-dome concepts to students in grades 3-5 through the trial use of Energetic and Synergetic Geometry as well as the undertaking of a workshop designed to prepare elementary and secondary school teachers to conduct further experiments. (CC)