Explored relations between measuring procedures and reasoning about amount on the part of 36 children of 3-8 years in 2 studies. Transformation on a relevant measurement procedure predicted difficulty of transformation for a domain. (RJC)

Describes how computer-assisted-instruction was introduced into an adult education center in Soweto, South Africa. Concludes that one should not assume that the Third World has the infrastructure (or electricity) to accommodate change. (JOW)

Ways that literacy and numeracy can be integrated into adult basic education classes are discussed. A class of six adult students learning language and mathematics in the context of the federal election illustrates the effectiveness of integrated teaching. (Contains 12 references.) (LB)

Studied the influence of school- and age-related variables on tasks involving quantitative skills. On conservation of number, performance improved as a function of age but not schooling. On mental arithmetic, accuracy improved with schooling rather than age. Results support the utility of the cut-off design for investigating instructional and…

Sex differences in spatial ability were examined in 410 Israeli college students using standard tests of mental rotation. On related abilities tests, males performed better than females on a numerical skills test, and females performed better on an associative memory test. No significant sex differences were found on other ability tests. (SLD)

Two experiments examined children's early judgments about numerical relations. Found that children as young as three years old are already adept at reasoning about relations between sets, independently of their ability to form numerical representations. Results support the existence of protoquantitative schemas, or ways of thinking about relations…

Describes a study of 57 vocational program faculty at Odessa College (Texas) to determine their perceptions of crucial competencies for students to master. Presents a core of 38 mathematical competencies identified as necessary for student success, grouped in the areas of whole numbers, fractions, decimals, mixed operations, and measurement. (26…

This study investigated the effects of various levels of secondary school calculus experience on performance in first-year college calculus, with focus on student performance on conceptual and procedural exam items. Students who had a year of secondary school calculus differed significantly in performance from those who had either no experience or…

Suggested are ways to improve the SAT and its face validity. Suggestions include greater emphasis on more-realistic problems, inclusion of realistic percent problems, modification of the multiple-choice format, and the use of the National Council of Mathematics "Curriculum and Evaluation Standards" as a guide to construct the test. (MDH)

Epistemological beliefs and relationships between belief in simple knowledge and mathematical text comprehension were examined in 2 experiments involving 412 college students. Regression analyses indicate that the less students believe in simple knowledge the better their performance on a mastery test and the more accurate their assessment of…

Described is an activity that uses the techniques of integral calculus to determine the volume of a bundt cake. The cake is used as an example of a solid of revolution. Included are the procedures and assumptions used by students to solve this problem. (KR)

This article recommends a holistic approach to student problems in mathematics. Teachers need to be aware of all paradigms (e.g., developmental, behaviorist, psychoanalytic) explaining causes of problems in mathematics. Examples of misunderstandings resulting from insufficient knowledge, insufficient mathematical vocabulary, and overgeneralization…

Assessment of 121 nondisabled elementary boys and 107 boys with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), ages 7 through 14 years, found significantly lower problem-solving scores in specific math concepts and slower computational performance for the boys with ADHD when reading and problem structure were held constant. Instructional…

Magnitude comparison, calculation verification, and short-term memory span experiments were conducted as a means of investigating number processing in 17 deaf college students with academic weaknesses. Deaf students' level of accuracy did not differ from that shown by their hearing peers; however, mean response times of deaf students were greater…

Presented is a proof where special attention is accorded to rigor and detail in proving the lemma that relates ruler-and-compass constructions to arithmetical operations. The idea that some angles cannot be trisected by a ruler and compass is proved using three different cases. (KR)