The author argues that teaching students to program a computer enhances their logical reasoning, problem solving skills, understanding of models, and ability to examine one's work critically. (SD)

This volume, a part of the Elements of Mathematics Program (EM), provides the student with an experience in developing a mathematical model for a "real-life" situation. After discussing the process of mathematization by reference to geometry, and presenting a flow-chart diagram describing the relationship of mathematical models to real…

This document dates from 1966 and is thought to be primarily useful in allowing the reader to trace the evolution of this model from its earlier stages to completion. M.E.T.R.O. is a gaming simulation which uses techniques of war gaming as a tool for coping with current and anticipated urban problems. At this stage in its conception, M.E.T.R.O.…

Points out that man and his institutions must be far-sighted and make sacrifices now to benefit future species and to preserve the environment. (LS)

Two simple quantitative models were derived from a series of experiments which explored the role of information storage in working memory when performing mental arithmetic. The decay model is a tractable analysis of a complex task which assumes a decay process in working storage. Similar analyses are recommended for problem solving activities…

Tree searching was applied as a computer model of simple addition sentences. Results indicated that the number of problem reductions performed in tree searching accounted for most of the variance across problems in student error rate and solution time. The technique constitutes a computer test for the adequacy of a problem solving prescription.…

An example of a mathematical modeling problem involving student enrollment and attrition is given along with a discussion of methods and conclusions. (MN)

An example is given of a mathematical modeling problem involving the number of people that get on and off an elevator and the expected number of stops it makes. (MN)

Described is the development of a simulation, or model of an existing congested pedestrian crossing situation by elementary school students in order to conduct trials of their solutions. (MN)

There are many problems that can be translated into the language of graph theory. Such a problem, discussed in this article is to show that in any group of two or more people, there are at least two people who have the same number of acquaintances in the group. (PK)

An alternative explanation is presented for the pattern of relative difficulty of arithmetical word problems to that suggested in a 1983 article. It is argued, that for many problems, much of the symbolic manipulation is accomplished externally, not internally. (MNS)

Describes a graduate or senior elective course combining fundamentals of surface phenomena with practical problem-solving structured around a series of case problems. Discusses topics covered and their development through acquiring new knowledge applied to the case problem, practical calculations of solutions, and applications to additional…

Deciding, with outline maps, what highway exits to use to reach various towns most speedily is the problem presented. The simulation is geometric, focusing on loci. (MNS)