Quadratic modeling problems are commonplace in high school mathematics courses; they typically situate quadratic patterns of change and their corresponding parabolic graph within real-world contexts. Traditional approaches to this type of problem lend themselves to making connections across different representations (e.g., Garofalo and Trinter…

"Who has been to Dairy Queen® and purchased a Blizzard?®" Ms. Bosetti asked her students. During the summer, Bosetti had seen many of her former and future students at the local Dairy Queen enjoying Blizzard desserts and wondered, "Which Blizzard size is the best value?" She used this context for a ratios and proportions task…

Linear functions are an important part of the middle school mathematics curriculum. Students in the middle grades gain fluency by working with linear functions in a variety of representations (NCTM 2001). Presented in this article is an activity that was used with five eighth-grade classes at three different schools. The activity contains 15 cards…

How can the key concept of equivalent expressions be addressed so that students strengthen their representational fluency with symbols, graphs, and numbers? How can research inform the synergistic use of both paper-and-pencil analysis and computer algebra systems (CAS) in a classroom learning environment? These and other related questions have…

Proposes sports statistics as a source of interesting and motivating problems for algebra students. Examines the possible solutions to a problem involving winning percentages in baseball. (MDH)

Use of the calculator to create a series of iterations to approximate i to some desired degree of accuracy is illustrated with three problems on interest rates. (MNS)

How calculators can enhance problem-solving abilities is discussed. Examples of calculator table-building activities that span the gap from arithmetic to algebra in middle schools are given. Percent, area and perimeter, and exponents are the focus. (MNS)

The "Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics (1989)" calls for the revision of existing secondary mathematics curricula which include an emphasis on contextual problems, multiple representations, and the use of computers. The focus of this revision significantly involves the acknowledgment of the key role of the…

Presents an activity through which students develop mathematical concepts connected to area and perimeter in a rich, real-life setting and use tables, graphs, diagrams, and spreadsheets to explore the problem, see relationships, and make and test conjectures about those relationships. Encourages algebraic thinking. (SYB)

Developed for use in teaching a two-semester, one-unit course, this course guide is intended to aid the high school instructor in teaching mathematical problem-solving and computational skills to vocational education students. The state-adopted textbook for general mathematics III, "Applied General Mathematics" serves as the major…

Describes a unit designed to integrate mathematics with other curriculum areas by drawing on real-life situations. This unit incorporates nutrition, calculators, and graphing skills to classify items from a grocery receipt and represent the amounts of money spent on each category in different graphs. (MDH)