Describes a group project that involves geometry and falls into an area of mathematics known as operations research, which is crucial to making decisions in business and industry. Includes problem statements and project assessment guidelines and illustrates solutions. (KHR)

Explores why it is impossible to make a square from six tangram pieces and, in the process, develops insight into the nature of learning mathematics as well as strategies for teaching. (YDS)

Describes similarities and differences between modeling cycles and stages of development. Includes examples of relevant constructs underlying children's developing ways of thinking about fractions, ratios, rates, proportions, or other mathematical ideas. Concludes that modeling cycles appear to be local or situated versions of the general stages…

Investigates student learning in a mathematics enrichment program offered via the Internet. Describes a course aimed at fostering students' capabilities to work like a mathematician. Examines students' correspondence and work for evidence of how students were working mathematically. Explains how to design both face-to-face and on-line teaching to…

Describes a beginning algebra course that places stronger emphasis on learning to solve problems and introduces topics using real world applications. Students learn estimating, graphing, and algebraic algorithms for the purpose of solving problems. Indicates that applications motivate students by appearing to be a more relevant topic as well as…

Investigates the effects of two context variables on the performance of seventh-grade students on a qualitative and numerical proportional reasoning test. Explores the nature of the relationships between rational number skills, qualitative reasoning about ratios, and numerical proportional reasoning. (Author/YP)

This bibliography lists and annotates 10 references on gifted education, including journal articles and book sections. The references deal with curriculum content, creativity, moral reasoning, mathematical problem solving, cooperative learning, minority students' standardized test scores, and minority students' under-representation in gifted…

Research relevant to improving instruction for learning disabled students with mathematical problem solving deficits is reviewed. Using a cognitive-metacognitive framework, techniques for teaching both specific and comprehensive mathematical problem solving strategies as well as techniques to enhance strategy generalization are presented.…

A Holt, Michigan, high school's recent shift toward conceptual understanding and demonstrated performance inspired one math teacher to develop a panel performance-assessment process. For their midsemester and semester exams, students in algebra II and precalculus discuss before a panel of judges the solutions to complex problems. Panel assessment…

Identified factors associated with learning mathematics in groups with computers. Subjects were 8 groups of 6 students, ages 9 to 12 years, using LOGO. Analysis of learning measures indicated positive gains resulting from groupwork, with no differences across gender or ability; analysis of process factors pointed to explanations for the differing…

Describes data analysis activities for grades three through six using unshelled peanuts. Includes two reproducible student worksheets. (MKR)

Investigation of (n=101) 17- to 18-year-old students' responses to a task relating to Boyle's Law for gases found that 34% to 38% of students did not understand the concepts of volume and mass, respectively, of a gas under the given circumstances. (Author/MKR)

Describes some mathematical investigations of the necktie which includes applications of geometry, statistics, data analysis, sampling, probability, symmetry, proportion, problem solving, and business. (MKR)

Observation and interviews of (n=90) second and third graders' mathematical problem-solving behavior found that the children readily attempted unfamiliar problems and used systematic solution processes. Found no significant gender differences. (24 references) (Author/MKR)

Provides a method of solving vector and force problems that is less complicated for the learner. Gives several examples concerning projectiles and inclined planes. (MVL)