This article summarizes research conducted on calculator block items from the 2007 fourth- and eighth-grade National Assessment of Educational Progress Main Mathematics. Calculator items from the assessment were categorized into two categories: problem-solving items and noncomputational mathematics concept items. A calculator has the potential to…

Examines elementary students' perspectives on the engagement potential of particular mathematical problems and students' views on classroom problem-solving activities in general. Nonroutine examples that focused on important reasoning processes and did not involve computation had the greatest engagement potential, whereas computational problems…

The article seeks to illustrate that calculators and problem solving complement each other perfectly. (MK)

Examines 250 sixth-grade students' understanding of arithmetic average by assessing their understanding of the computational algorithm. Results indicate that the majority of the students knew the "add-them-all-up-and-divide" averaging algorithm, but only half of the students were able to correctly apply the algorithm to solve a…

Compares the ability of students in Michigan (N=302) and Scotland (N=221) to do simple calculation exercises and relational/practical problems involving number and operation. Although this is not a controlled statistical study (data collected included birth date and sex), sample sizes are sufficient to make the reported results meaningful. (JN)

Five calculator activities are described that are designed to explore ordered operations. Suggestions are given on mathematical objectives, strategies for solving, and possible extensions or follow-up activities. (MP)

Definitions of estimating and approximating are given and areas where these skills are used (such as practical situations, problem solving, and measurement) are discussed. Nine activities which range from second to twelfth-grade level are suggested. (MK)

Students in grades four-six were asked to complete multiplication examples and write a story problem (reported earlier, SE 533 279). Their stories were categorized in terms of their logic and realism. Many errors were noted, leading to the conclusion that knowledge of multiplication does not necessarily lead to logical multiplication. (MNS)

Eighty-seven pupils in grades 4-6 completed five multiplication examples and wrote a problem for another example. They were reasonably proficient, with mean scores of 82 percent in grade 4, 75 percent in grade 5, and 97 percent in grade 6. They did less well on developing a problem. (MNS)

The objective were to explore some of the ways in which the calculator can be used and to determine the effects. Areas covered are: computation, mathematics readiness, problem solving, and discovery learning. (MP)

Provides a discussion and an example of a problem which occurs in mathematical contests or entrance examinations and deals with the question of the magnitude of exponentials. Includes additional illustrative examples. (RT)

Instructional techniques are given for the use of calculators in (1) finding prime numbers, (2) solving trigonometric equations, and (3) solving polynomial equations. (CP)

Presented is a calculation for the probability of a athletic event. Assumptions, computations, and questions to be considered in the solution of this problem are discussed. (CW)

Discusses procedures used throughout history to solve fractional and decimal divisor problems. Early rules and definitions, approaches in mathematics and methods books, "new math" approaches, research findings, and recent textbook procedures are included. Concludes by presenting nine recommendations for teaching the operation. (DH)

Current practices in teaching about distributivity of multiplication over addition and subtraction are reviewed. Then a study is described in which two inventories were administered to 83 eighth-grade students; scores were low. Suggestions for teaching distributivity are presented. (MNS)