Three dysfunctional behaviors of basic algebra students are described: Silence as Camouflage, Wing and a Prayer, and Ignorance is OK. These behavior patterns are explained, and beneficial teaching methods that address the weaknesses are presented.

Games are promoted as examples for classroom discussion of stationary Markov chains. In a game context Markov chain terminology and results are made concrete, interesting, and entertaining. Game length for several-player games such as "Hi Ho! Cherry-O" and "Chutes and Ladders" is investigated and new, simple formulas are given. Slight…

The Sixth International Congress on Mathematical Education (ICME-6) was special in that it provided a context commemorating the life and work of George Polya (1887-1985) whose native land was Hungary and to whom all those interested in the teaching of mathematical problem solving owe a great debt. What follows in this publication is a collection…

The focus of this book is on a rationale and a set of strategies for problem generation in mathematics. Six chapters attempt to involve readers in the process of posing problems and in understanding why that process is important. Chapter 1 discusses two problem posing perspectives, while chapter 2 looks at the first phase of problem posing. The…

Students enrolled in two sections of college algebra (Math 110) at the University of Maryland in spring 1984 were informed about assistance available from the Math Lab. They were also informed that a sticker would be attached to any one of the four semester exams when grades indicated that the student should pursue one or more of the Lab services.…

APL was invented specifically as a mathematical teaching tool, and is an excellent vehicle for teaching mathematical concepts using computers. This article illustrates the use of APL in teaching many different topics in mathematics, including logic, set theory, functions, statistics, linear algebra, and matrices. (MNS)

A method of using microcomputers to teach polar coordinates and graphing is described. Two computer programs plus illustrations are included. (MNS)

Formulas for use in computer programs are presented. Two programming applications are discussed: one to ballistics using inverse sine and one to hours of daylight using inverse cosine. (MNS)

The problem of controlling the grizzly bear population at Yellowstone is described. The results are presented in graphical form and discussed. A computer program is included. (MNS)

Presented are recommendations that emerged from a conference on the state of mathematics in two-year colleges. The recommendations focus on (1) the curriculum and new technologies; (2) collaborative efforts with secondary schools, colleges, and universities; and (3) faculty development and renewal. (JN)

A narcissistic number is a positive integer equal to the sum of its digits raised to an integral power. For example, 15 is equal to 1-cubed plus 5-cubed plus 3-cubed (a narcissistic number of order three). A computer program to find narcissistic numbers up to 10,000 is given and discussed. (JN)

Two topics are discussed that can be presented in a discussion of the annual percentage rate (APR): difference equations and fixed-point iteration. A program in BASIC using the iteration procedure is included. (MNS)

Describes a number sequence made by counting the occurrence of each digit from 9 to 0, catenating this count with the digit, and joining these numeric strings to form a new term. Presents a computer-aided proof and an analytic proof of the sequence; compares these two methods of proof. (YP)

Explores whether the differences in use of terminology were related to respective fields or to idiosyncratic characteristics of experience and education. Reports differences among college teachers, high school teachers, and college students from a 16-item survey on algebraic and graphing terminology used in mathematics and science. (YP)

Discusses common error-detecting identification codes using linear algebra terminology to provide an interesting application of algebra. Presents examples from the International Standard Book Number, the Universal Product Code, bank identification numbers, and the ZIP code bar code. (YP)