Extensive studies have documented various difficulties with, and misconceptions about, decimal numeration across different levels of education. This paper reports on pre-service teachers' misconceptions about the density of decimals. Written test data from 140 Indonesian pre-service teachers, observation of group and classroom discussions provided…

One of the best known numbers in mathematics is the number denoted by the symbol [pi]. This column describes activities that teachers can utilize to encourage students to explore the use of [pi] in one of the simplest of geometric figures: the circle.

A key area of weakness in individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is working memory, thus the goal of this study was to determine whether teaching children (aged 4-11) with FASD verbal rehearsal would increase their memory. Rehearsal training has been effective in other populations with working memory difficulties, so we…

We review recently published papers that have contributed to our understanding of how the preverbal infant represents number, area and time. We review evidence that infants rely on two distinct systems to represent number nonverbally and highlight the similarities in the ratio-dependent discrimination of number, time and area. Contrary to earlier…

This article looks at how the activity of decomposing number--having students write numerical expressions equivalent to the number of days in school--can help students develop understanding of place value. (Contains 3 figures.)

The balance between the preservation of early cognitive functions and serious transformations on these functions shifts across time. Piaget's writings, which favored transformations, are being replaced by writings that emphasize continuities between select cognitive functions of infants and older children. The claim that young infants possess…

An elementary arithmetic workbook in whole numbers for speakers of Hmong has an introductory section and a variety of exercises in conceptualizing, writing, spelling, and sequencing numbers from 0 to 999. (MSE)

The history of the two numbers e and pi is traced, and the relationship of thesetwo numbers to the history and development of mathematics is indicated. (DT)

This programed mathematics textbook is for student use in vocational education courses. It was developed as part of a programed series covering 21 mathematical competencies which were identified by university researchers through task analysis of several occupational clusters. The development of a sequential content structure was also based on…

This study traces the development of nondecimal numeration from the 16th century to the present. The first six chapters detail the contributions of mathematicians as well as people from other fields. Applications to computers are covered in one chapter, while another chapter discusses the coverage of numeration systems in college textbooks for…

This article presents some alternative formulae for Chinese-Western conversion of dates. (CHK)

Understanding rational numbers is often an elusive goal in mathematics. Presented is an approach for teaching rational numbers that has been used with many preservice and elementary school teachers. With some adaptation, the approach could be used with secondary school students. (RH)

This paper describes a design research study with ten second-grade students who are part of the Measure Up (MU) research and development project underway at the University of Hawai'i. Students were asked how they counted in multiple bases, specifically how they knew when to go to a new place value and why it was necessary to do so. All ten…

Theorems concerning the probability of the appearance of certain digits in a numeral are stated and proved. (DT)