Discusses the lives and feelings of homeless youth living in the streets of America's cities. Includes a photo essay on street youth expressing their desperation and alienation in graffiti. (KH)

Variation in syntactic difficulty in arithmetic problems is studied to determine its influence on students' ability to solve problems correctly. Findings in a study of elementary school students indicated syntactic difficulty affects problem solving ability, regardless of sex (f=fiche number). (MH)

Two problem-solving posters are given, one involving finding the ages of well-known characters and using this information to solve problems and the other focusing on using information from a chart. (MNS)

The development of symbolic computer algebra designed to manipulate abstract mathematical expressions is discussed. The ability of this software to mimic the standard patterns of human problem solving represents a major advance toward "true" artificial intelligence. (MP)

Given is an example of the solution of maximum-minimum problems by replacing differentiation techniques with microcomputers and simple BASIC programs. (MNS)

Three pieces of computer software are described and reviewed: HyperCard, to build and use varied applications; Iggy's Gnees, for problem solving with shapes in grades kindergarten-two; and Algebra Shop, for practicing skills and problem solving. (MNS)

Research shows that films can be effective in engaging the interest of students in an appealing manner. States that, with the growth of video cassettes, feature films should become an economical and more widely employed teaching medium. Suggestions for using films in education are given and sociologically relevant films in 39 categories are…

A hypothetical classroom discussion is used to present concepts and problems students can master. Three computer programs are listed for binomial probabilities. (MNS)

Despite the development of a common mathematics course, and the raising of the school leaving age, Scotland's mathematics curriculum is still designed for specialization. A general education perspective suggests that the curriculum should enable students to relate mathematics to everyday life (f=fiche number). (Author/CP)

How to take photographic slides of computer software for demonstration to large groups is explained in the first portion of this column. Then follow items on a Pythagorean curiosity and a computer approach to a nonroutine problem. (MNS)

A brief introduction to the broad field of curve-fitting is provided to help explain the reasoning behind least-squares data fitting, and also to provide useful equations for two functional forms of interest in chemistry. Appendices give program examples written in Fortran and detail the method of Guggenheim. (MP)

A hungry worm is looking for something to eat according to very specific rules, and the path he takes is a graph. The problem is detailed in Applesoft BASIC using low resolution graphics for worms that turn 90 degrees and high resolution for worms that can turn 45 degrees. (MP)

The use of a computer program written in BASIC to help prove a theorem in geometry is discussed. Ideas used in this example could be applied to writing programs for other geometric proofs. (MP)

Presented are two problems that can be solved using a computer simulation by students who have completed Algebra II. The distance and bisector formulas and the various forms of the equations of a circle and straight line are the topics. Computer program listings are included. (MNS)

The effect that mode of administration, computer versus paper and pencil, had on the performance of 120 middle school students on multiple choice and written test questions was studied. Results show that, for students accustomed to writing on computers, responses written on the computer were more successful. Implications for testing are discussed.…