Academic scholars face a difficult challenge when attempting to grasp the intricate world of mathematics. The complexity of mathematical concepts often lies hidden beneath layers of formulas and procedures, obscuring their true essence. Traditional educational resources often fall short in conveying the profound meaning behind these concepts,…

An outline of the way that fractions might be presented in ninth grade algebra is given, and implications for elementary school instruction are noted. (DT)

Facts are given about the ninth-century Arab mathematician Al-Khwarizmi, from whose name the word algorithm is derived. His influence on algebra and arithmetic are discussed. (MNS)

Presents alternative equation-solving procedures that emphasize an examination of the steps or operations necessary to perform a calculation, followed by the inversion of those steps. The approach is especially attractive to students with limited mathematical skills. (Author/MKR)

Attempts to describe a notion parallel to number sense, called symbol sense, incorporating the following components: making friends with symbols, reading through symbols, engineering symbolic expressions, equivalent expressions for non-equivalent meanings, choice of symbols, flexible manipulation skills, symbols in retrospect, and symbols in…

Growth functions involved in mathematical models for biological development are discussed using the algebra of polynomials and matrices. (SD)

Identifying the larger (L), smaller (S) and difference (D) of two real numbers, and then selecting the appropriate relationship between L, D, and S can help students solve algebra word problems. (SD)

Presents an example of mathematics from an algorithmic point of view, with emphasis on the design and verification of this algorithm. The program involves finding roots for algebraic equations using the half-interval search algorithm. The program listing is included. (JN)

Two mathematical topics are interpreted from the viewpoints of traditional (performing algorithms) and contemporary (creating algorithms and thinking in terms of them for solving problems and developing theory) algorithmic mathematics. The two topics are Horner's method for evaluating polynomials and Gauss's method for solving systems of linear…