Describes an activity designed to demonstrate the birthday paradox and introduce students to real-world applications of Monte Carlo-type simulation techniques. Includes a sample TI-83 program and graphical analysis of the birthday problem function. (KHR)

One way to assist students in developing correct intuitive ideas about the effect of sample size is to allow students to simulate similar problems. Describes experiences with classes performing simulation using graphing calculators. (ASK)

One problem that students have with mathematics is that they often view the topic as a series of unrelated ideas. Sometimes they are aware that they have to know one concept to move to the next, but what is done in geometry is not necessarily related to anything in algebra. This failure to recognize mathematical connections limits students'…

Least squares regression is the most common method of fitting a straight line to a set of bivariate data. Another less known method that is available on Texas Instruments graphing calculators is median-median regression. This method is proposed as a simple method that may be used with middle and high school students to motivate the idea of fitting…