Suggests and illustrates ways in which systematic consideration of selected unary operations can be facilitated by using electronic calculators. Emphasis is placed upon unary operations suitable for exploration and investigation at the pre-algebra level, using calculation algorithms as a basis for generating examples and non-examples to develop…

Problems with apportioning seats within the House of Representatives every 10 years are discussed. The history of the problem and the nature of the politics involved are reviewed, and the current method in use is detailed along with its flaws. A call for a more sensible system is made. (MP)

Three short essays provide teaching suggestions for lessons on base two, order of operations, and ratios used to motivate a number of mathematical ideas. (MK)

A computer program in BASIC is presented, with the underlying algorithm explained, for multiplying any two multi-digit numbers and obtaining an exact answer. (MP)

Describes the success, the methods (mental, informal written, standard algorithm) and the strategies of informal written arithmetic to be observed when 300 elementary students worked on six addition and six subtraction problems with three-digit numbers. (Author/MM)

Use of the computer programs provided here in APL programming language can help students understand computational algorithms. (SD)

An approach to solving equations is presented. (SD)

The materials in this teacher's guide are designed for about 18 weeks of study by secondary school students. For maximum benefit, the student needs contact with a computer, primarily for verifying and trouble-shooting the algorithms which he or she has constructed. The course is usually taught for grade 11 or 12 students. The commentary contains…

With the advent of computers and electronic calculators, the role of logarithms in the curriculum is changing. An intuitive approach to logarithms, stressing the notion of isomorphism, is discussed. (SD)

The use of statistical methods in the design and analysis of discrete algorithms is explored. The introductory chapter contains a literature survey and background material on probability theory. In Chapter 2, probabilistic approximation algorithms are discussed with the goal of exposing and correcting some oversights in previous work. Chapter 3…

The research reported in this paper was designed to analyze the incidence of use of higher-order rules by students solving geometric construction problems. A carefully selected set of construction problems was subjected to rigorous a priori analysis by mathematics educators to determine what basic and second-order rules might be used by able high…

This is the second unit in a series of 14 SMSG texts designed to cover mathematical concepts which the general population should know. One chapter of the unit discusses algorithms, flow charts, and computers; the second chapter tackles problem formulation procedures (not actual problem solving) and briefly covers mathematical models. For a special…

Designed for the student who has acquired basic computational skills with non-negative rational numbers, this guidebook on minimum course content seeks further development of computational skills with fractions. General goals and performance objectives, a course outline, teaching strategies, sample test items, and a list of six references are…

The early use of the distributive law can aid students in learning addition of fractions and provide rapid approaches to computation involving other operations. (SD)

Two methods of adding columns of single digits were compared in terms of the speed and accuracy with which sums are produced. The direct method (successive addition) was found to be better than the method of looking for combinations which sum to ten. (SD)