The application of the programmable calculator to evaluating complicated formulas is illustrated by considering the formula for finding the area of any triangle when only the lengths of the three sides are known. Other advantages of the programmable calculator are discussed such as freeing the student to explore more challenging problems and…

This article discusses the impact of symbolic-manipulation systems on secondary school mathematics curriculum. Characteristics and possible roles for the symbolic systems are explored. Four references are listed. (YP)

Suggests computer graphing as a topic for computer programing. Reviews Apple II computer graphics information and gives suggestions for writing the programs. Presents equations to help place information onto the screen with proper coordinates. (MVL)

Describes how to measure animals pace, stride, and step angle in degrees. Presents cases of measurements for dinosaur trackways. (YP)

Discusses the calculation of pi by means of experimental methods. Polygon circle ratios, Archimedes' method, Buffon's needles, a Monte Carlo method, and prime number approaches are used. Presents three BASIC programs for the calculations. (YP)

Explores the parallel axes representation (PAR) of linear functions. Illustrates the influences of slope and intercept values on the representation. Appended are five exercises for making the PAR programs using BASIC language. (YP)

Illustrates how muMATH can be used for manipulating abstract differentiation rules, optimization, implicit differentiation, related rules, and verifying the chain rule. (MVL)