Children need more than activities to help them see that the relationship expressed in a formula is true. Giving them the underlying principles will contribute to better comprehension, retention, and transfer. (MNS)

A problem, motivated by the conversion of Fahrenheit to Celsius, is related to classical Diophantine equations. (MK)

Classroom ideas for teaching area and perimeter concepts are presented. Squares, circles and other shapes are examined. Further explorations are suggested. (PK)

Flow diagrams developing cube roots and formulas for the square, sphere, cube, circle and sector, oblong, and cylinder are presented. Some comments on their use, along with calculators, are included. (MNS)

Describes the method that Archimedes utilized to calculate the volumes of spheres and other solids. The method found the volume of a sphere by comparing the mass of parallel slices of a sphere and a cone with that of a cylinder of known mass. (MDH)

This curriculum guide is an adaptation for students who need to proceed more slowly with new concepts and who also require additional reinforcement. The materials have been designed to assist the teacher in developing plans to be utilized in a variety of classroom settings. The guide can be used to develop both individual and group lessons. In…

Presents a problem-solving activity in which students are asked to find the shortest distance from one vertex of a cube to the vertex diagonally opposite by moving along the surface of the cube. Extends the problem for any rectangular solid. (MDH)

This section includes brief articles on holding a 'metric review show,' the 'normal' approach to graphing, graphing polynomials by using the powers of the factors, and some sum derivations. (MNS)

Presents an experiment to demonstrate Charles's Law of Ideal Gases by creating a constant-pressure thermometer from materials that can be found in the kitchen. Discusses the underlying mathematical relationships and a step-by-step description of the experiment. (MDH)

Notes that the derivative of the area of a circle yields the circumference and the derivative of the volume of a sphere yields the surface area. Explores where these or other such relationships are generalizable. (PK)

These materials are intended to provide meaningful mathematical experiences for pre-algebra students. These experiences emphasize the development of computational skills, mathematical concepts, and problem-solving techniques. This bulletin may be used as the basis for the first term of a one-year course. The complete course is divided into 12…

Describes an inexpensive spectrum projector that makes high-dispersion, high-efficiency diffraction gratings using a holographic process. Discusses classroom applications such as transmission spectra, absorption spectra, reflection characteristics of materials, color mixing, florescence and phosphorescence, and break up spectral colors. (MDH)

Describes the use of a particle detector, an instrument that records the passage of particles through it, to determine the mass of a particle by measuring the particles momentum, speed, and kinetic energy. An appendix discusses the limits on the impact parameter. (MDH)

Presents one way, using simple materials available in hardware stores, to obtain accurate measurements of gravity acceleration in student laboratories. Analyzes a time-of-flight measuring scheme and discusses the experimental arrangements to make the measurements. (MDH)

Develops the idea of fractals through a laboratory activity that calculates the fractal dimension of ordinary white bread. Extends use of the fractal dimension to compare other complex structures as other breads and sponges. (MDH)