Students frequently have difficulty determining whether a given real-life situation is best modeled as a linear relationship or as an exponential relationship. One root of such difficulty is the lack of deep understanding of the very concept of "rate of change." The authors will provide a lesson that allows students to reveal their misconceptions…

Nonroutine function tasks are more challenging than most typical high school mathematics tasks. Nonroutine tasks encourage students to expand their thinking about functions and their approaches to problem solving. As a result, they gain greater appreciation for the power of multiple representations and a richer understanding of functions. This…

This article provides for a fast extremely accurate approach to graphing functions that is based on learning function reference graphs and then applying algebraic transformations to these reference graphs.

Compares observed to expected counts of white, African American, and Hispanic major-league baseball players (n=650) in 1989. Uses chi-square values to determine that racial differences are highly significant for pitcher, catcher, shortstop, and outfielder. Includes appendix with 1993 player counts and seven suggested student activities. (SEW)

A discussion of the so-called rose curves defined by simple trigonometric functions in polar coordinates. (MM)

Practical decisions involving fuel economy are shown to require important skills from secondary school algebra and analysis. (MP)

Procedures to help algebra students solve problems more efficiently are discussed, using linear programing graphs. (MNS)

Describes an activity in which students analyze data from the Olympics. Discusses assessment of the activity and provides sample assessment form. (MKR)

Emphasizes the commonalities among classes of polynomial functions. Provides exploratory activities for students as well as a teacher's guide. (KHR)

The author describes a series of current economic ideas and situations which can be used in the mathematics classroom to illustrate the use of signed numbers, the coordinate system, univariate and multivariate functions, linear programing, and variation. (SD)

Presents a real-life example of mathematical modeling in which a medical company asks for help in solving a warehouse-inventory problem. Uses charts, graphs, and computers. (MKR)

Describes the use of graph theory and game theory to deepen students' appreciation of Ferdinand Magellan's story and his magnificent contributions as an explorer. (MKR)

Three biorhythm cycles affecting behavior are discussed and graphed by using basic mathematical operations along with simple graphing techniques. (JT)