Problems involving the use of diagrams to depict plangers'' (in which lines cross a specified number of times) are discussed. (LS)

Looks at the solution to the mathematical-modeling problem asking students to find the smallest percent of the popular vote needed to elect a President. Provides assumptions from which to work the problem. (MDH)

A discussion of the mathematics of rugby is related to an earlier article about mathematics and the physical world. (MP)

Two scheduling problems, one involving setting up an examination schedule and the other describing traffic light problems, are modeled as colorings of graphs consisting of a set of vertices and edges. The chromatic number, the least number of colors necessary for coloring a graph, is employed in the solutions. (MDH)

This collection of materials includes six units dealing with applications of matrix methods. These are: 105-Food Service Management; 107-Markov Chains; 108-Electrical Circuits; 109-Food Service and Dietary Requirements; 111-Fixed Point and Absorbing Markov Chains; and 112-Analysis of Linear Circuits. The units contain exercises and model exams,…

A model of competition probabilities using past performances of competitors against common opponents is constructed. Application to predicting victories in athletic competitions is also reviewed. (MP)

Over the past 10 years, national conferences and committees investigating the state of American mathematics education have advocated an increased emphasis on problem solving and mathematical modeling situations in the secondary school curriculum. However, little effort has been made to prepare secondary school teachers to use mathematical modeling…

Several mathematical problems designed to provide motivation for the application of mathematics to practical situations in sports and industry are presented. (MP)

Presents mathematical models to determine whether seven-game baseball playoff series are significantly fairer than five-game series. Compares the results obtained from the models to actual playoff results. (MDH)

Discusses three types of bridges to determine how best to model each one: (1) drawbridge; (2) balance bridge; and (3) bascule bridge. Describes four experiments with assumptions, analyses, interpretations, and validations. Provides several diagrams and pictures of the bridges, and typical data. (YP)

Presents two methods of calculating the expected value for a participant on the television game show "The Wheel of Fortune." The first approach involves the use of basic expected-value principles. The second approach uses those principles in addition to infinite geometric series. (MDH)

Emphasizes a real-world-problem situation using sine law and cosine law. Angles of elevation from two tracking stations located in the plane of the equator determine height of a satellite. Calculators or computers can be used. (LDR)

An activity involving the charting of the spread of a disease is described. Arrows are used to develop models of the progression of the disease. (MNS)

This unit views applications of elementary game theory to international relations. It is noted that of all the significant world problems, the nuclear arms race has proved one of the most intractable. The main concern of the module is to investigate a possible solution to the arms race, based on extending the classic two-person game of Prisoner's…