A model of competition probabilities using past performances of competitors against common opponents is constructed. Application to predicting victories in athletic competitions is also reviewed. (MP)

A collection of learning activities viewed as challenging and suitable for junior high students in grades 7 and 8 are presented. The questions are designed to suggest other situations and encourage mathematically gifted pupils to develop, practice, and refine analytical thinking skills. (MP)

Several examples of games and enrichment activities designed to be used with calculators in an elementary school setting are presented. Some possible difficulties students may encounter while carrying out the activities are reviewed. (MP)

Record-breaking snowfalls are the starting point of a presentation that delves into many aspects of probability and interesting and unusual aspects of viewing independent, random phenomena. (MP)

This is a not-so-serious discussion of accidental patterns involving chance patterns between mathematics and natural laws and accidental patterns involving the numbers "pi" and "e." (Author/SA)

Patterns generated by the set of natural or counting numbers are discussed. Included are quartic, odd, square, and triangular numbers. (MK)

This activity involves students investigating the mathematics of packaging and exploring various concepts in geometry, including area and the Pythagorean theorem. Mathematics comes out of the discussion of packaging cans into six-packs and focuses on the cost-effectiveness of the horizontal storage area used. Students learn how knowledge of…

Reviews six software packages: (1) "Adventures with Charts and Graphs: Project Zoo," dealing with problem solving; (2) "Balancing Bear"; (3) "Baseball Math: Activity Sheet Generator," drilling in basic operations; (4) "Math Mind Puzzlers," producing worksheets; (5) "More Teasers from Tobbs: Fractions…

Interest in mathematics can often be generated by seemingly nonmathematical items. A card trick from a course in recreational mathematics for middle school students is described. It involves several important mathematical activities: problem-solving analysis, making a conjecture and testing it, discovering, and verbalizing. (MNS)

Until age 11 or 12 children haven't reached the stage of abstract reasoning, therefore explanations of math concepts need a concrete, hands-on focus. Several learning activities, rooted in real life situations, are suggested to parents to help children understand math concepts; thereby easing anxiety and promoting enjoyment of math. (IAH)

Some appearances of pi in a wide variety of problems are presented. Sections focus on some history, the first analytical expressions for pi, Euler's summation formula, Euler and Bernoulli, approximations to pi, two and three series for the arctangent, more analytical expressions for pi, and arctangent formulas for calculating pi. (MNS)

Presents four investigations involving geometric sequences and series: folding a sheet of paper in half 8 times, stacking pieces of paper cut in half 50 times, snapping your fingers at intervals doubled in length for 1 year, and summing time intervals continuously cut in half. (MDH)

The on-off settings of a series of eight switches determines the code to open garage doors. Presented are two problems asking the probability that two people would have the same garage door opener code or whether a specific person would have the same code as another person in the neighborhood. (MDH)

Described is a project that integrates mathematical knowledge with the goal of creating a school environment that promotes kindness. The project, "Very Special Person Week," has students make "mathematics name" posters for all teachers and administrators of the school. Each letter is represented with mathematical symbolism and…

Applies Pascal's Triangle to determine the number of ways in which a given team can win a playoff series of differing lengths. Presents the solutions for one-, three-, five-, seven-, and nine-game series, and extends the solution to the general case for any series. (MDH)