Two decades ago, in an award-winning paper, Dan Kennedy (1995) likened learning mathematics to climbing a tree, for which there was only one way to climb: up a large and solid trunk. In the limited time that is available, many students give up the climb, impede others, fall off the trunk, or fail to climb the tree sufficiently well. In the case of…

Logarithms continue to play an important role in mathematics (most significantly in calculus), science, and engineering. It is therefore important for students to understand logarithms as real numbers as well as the characteristics of logarithmic functions. Exploration of challenges in understanding logarithms as real numbers and logarithmic…

For almost all students, what happens when they push buttons on their calculators is essentially magic, and the techniques used are seemingly pure wizardry. In this article, the author draws back the curtain to expose some of the mathematics behind computational wizardry and introduces some fundamental ideas that are accessible to precalculus…

The purpose of this article is to point out some of the problems that arise in the use of calculators to illustrate derivatives, due to rounding or truncation, by the calculator. Several illustrations of numerical differentiation techniques are also given. (Author/MP)

Two traditional presentations introducing the calculus of exponential functions are first presented. Then the suggested direct presentation using calculators is described. (MNS)

Questions students raise about the meaning of zero to the zero power present an opportunity for mathematics teachers to involve students in active participation in exploring mathematical relationships. Calculators are the needed tool to make this exploration accessible to students. How they can be used is described. (MNS)

A method is presented for determining cube roots on a calculator with square root facility that has a rapid rate of convergence. (MP)

Gives a general description of reformed calculus efforts and describes experiences with two reformed calculus programs together with traditional calculus. Also provides comparisons between these three programs using teaching evaluations and student journals. (Author/MKR)

Illustrates three examples usually delayed until sufficient terminology, concepts, and methods have been developed unless using calculators or computers. The three examples are on exponential growth, triangle construction, and end behavior of certain function. Discusses the advantages of technology-enhanced mathematics teaching. (YP)