The author, Sirin Budak, discusses how to model the problem of a frog climbing out of a well using piecewise functions and GeoGebra.

We conducted a collective case study investigating two college algebra students' graph reasoning and selection on an online assessment. Students completed the assessment during individual, semi-structured interviews, as part of a broader validation study. The assessment contained six items; students selected Cartesian graphs to represent…

As a parent, the author stepped into his child's class on a Friday morning to a room buzzing with activity. Parents walked around the room, coffee and bagel in hand, reading stories that their child (and others) had drafted, revised, written, and illustrated. Students eagerly shared their stories and drawings, cherishing the comments and praise…

Students frequently have difficulty determining whether a given real-life situation is best modeled as a linear relationship or as an exponential relationship. One root of such difficulty is the lack of deep understanding of the very concept of "rate of change." The authors will provide a lesson that allows students to reveal their misconceptions…

In this note, we demonstrate with illustrations two different ways that MS Excel can be used to solve Linear Systems of Equation, Linear Programming Problems, and Matrix Inversion Problems. The advantage of using MS Excel is its availability and transparency (the user is responsible for most of the details of how a problem is solved). Further, we…

Presents an activity in which students learn how to label graphs in order to make them meaningful. (ASK)

Procedures to help algebra students solve problems more efficiently are discussed, using linear programing graphs. (MNS)

Describes an activity in which students analyze data from the Olympics. Discusses assessment of the activity and provides sample assessment form. (MKR)

Emphasizes the commonalities among classes of polynomial functions. Provides exploratory activities for students as well as a teacher's guide. (KHR)

Describes a series of lessons in which 6th grade students explore notions of rates of change and their effect on the shapes of graphs. Addresses aspects of the algebra content standard for the middle grades. (YDS)

A variety of applications of logarithms are presented along with suggestions about how this topic might be made more interesting and relevant in a secondary classroom. In most cases, the treatment is multi-modal using numerical, graphical and algebraic approaches.

This activity guide is a supplement to the November 1996 issue of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Student Math Notes. It contains a series of problems based on one main story problem. Using this problem and the other problems contained in the guide based on it, students explore different mathematical concepts such as graph theory,…

Presents a real-life example of mathematical modeling in which a medical company asks for help in solving a warehouse-inventory problem. Uses charts, graphs, and computers. (MKR)

Describes the use of graph theory and game theory to deepen students' appreciation of Ferdinand Magellan's story and his magnificent contributions as an explorer. (MKR)

Using data about companies with which children have first-hand experience (such as McDonald's or Mattel Toys) piques interest in graphing activities. How the project is developed, with group and individual activities, is described. (MNS)