Exercises for high school students are presented which entail designing computer programs to enable the computer to identify a geometrical figure as a specific type of triangle or quadrilateral, given its 2-dimensional coordinates. Computer programming skills required are not sophisticated, but a solution requires careful analysis of necessary and…

This report examines and summarizes the needs in mathematics of the Fresno City school system. The study is one in a series of needs assessment reports for PROJECT DESIGN, an ESEA Title III project administered by the Fresno City Unified School District. Theoretical concepts, rather than computational drill, would be emphasized in the proposed…

This set of 11 teacher-prepared Learning Activity Packages (LAPs) in intermediate algebra covers number systems; exponents and radicals; polynomials and factoring; rational expressions; coordinate geometry; relations, functions, and inequalities; quadratic equations and inequalities; Quadratic functions; systems of equations and inequalities;…

The process of forming operator schemata was studied in three experiments. In each experiment a greater amount of predictive information in a stimulus item increased the chance of selecting the operator accurately.

The second volume of the 24th annual conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education contains full research report papers. Papers include: (1) "What you see is what you get: The influence of visualization on the perception of data structures" (Dan Aharoni); (2) "Exploring the transparency of graphs and graphing"…

The third volume of the 24th annual conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education contains full research report papers. Papers include: (1) "Mathematics classrooms functioning as communities of inquiry: Possibilities and constraints for changing practice" (Susie Groves, Brian Doig, and Laurance Splitter); (2)…

Presents an extended activity consisting of a sequence of tasks organized so that students can visit several mathematical concepts concurrently and explore connections among them. Students build solids using bendable straws to form the skeletons of various polyhedra. Topics covered include tables and charts, algebraic expressions, surface area,…

Described are inconsistencies, definitions, and examples and their complex relationship which can be used to interpret students' reactions to the geometric tasks used to investigate inconsistencies in student thinking. Discusses the nature of definitions, the value of precise vocabulary, the use and limitations of prototypes, and the power of…

Described is a short program for teaching and learning about geometric transformations. The integration of geometry problem solving and BASIC programing is discussed. Applications of computer graphics are illustrated. (CW)

Discusses the golden ratio and how to make golden triangles using recursive Logo programs. Presents some outputs of the Penrose tile patterns. (YP)

Investigates gender differences and the role of spatial visualization in problem solving in high school geometry. Reports that, whereas males and females differed in spatial visualization and in their performance, they did not differ in logical reasoning ability or in their use of geometric problem-solving strategies. (Author)

Examined are gender differences across the mathematics curriculum related to various topic areas and mathematical abilities. It was found that boys performed better than girls in geometry and excelled in comprehension, and solving routine and non-routine problems while girls were better at mathematical manipulation problems. (Author/MVL)

Describes experiences for engineering students to develop spatial awareness and reasoning capability. Describes geometric modeling, basic geometric concepts, operations, surface modeling, and conclusions. (YP)

Presents 2 teaching ideas: (1) incorporating art, poetry, and geometry in class projects, and (2) showing alternative ways to introduce the statement, "If the product of two numbers is zero...," particularly by changing the word "zero" to "10" in the statement. (MKR)

Utilizes LOGO to teach the concept of inequalities by programing the turtle to take random walks in the coordinate plane restricted to predetermined regions defined by inequalities. The students task is to discover the inequalities that define the illegal areas into which the turtle must not move. Provides examples and corresponding computer…