Describes basic problem-solving skills and presents a protocol of a student solving a problem. Discusses some of the difficulties in obtaining a correct solution. Lists basic prompts for problem solving. (YP)

Describes how to develop students' communication skills, regular study habits, basic mathematics skills, and a talent for logical thinking in a calculus class. Eight references are listed. (YP)

Shows that the ratio of the area of the quadrilateral formed by joining the kth points to the area of the original quadrilateral is constant whether it is convex or concave quadrilateral. Presents many geoboard or dot paper diagrams and geometrical expresssions. (YP)

Solves the problem of defining a smooth piecewise linear approximation to a given function. Discusses some alternative approaches to the problem. (YP)

A structural model exploring relationships between ability, beliefs about mathematics, and achievement in remedial college mathematics is presented. In this study (n=236 students), previous mathematics skills were significantly related to beliefs, but beliefs were unrelated to final course grade for males. Conversely, beliefs about mathematics…

Described are the variations found between the western and African versions of the same logic puzzle. It is demonstrated that mathematical ideas are of concern in traditional non-Western cultures as well as in the West. (KR)

Explored are the distributions of residual components in two model systems. A system of components with exponentially distributed lifetimes and the two-dimensional "leaf model" in which objects fall on a plane with positions independent and normally distributed are discussed. Included are the definition, application, computations, and theorem. (KR)

The problem of determining the most energy-efficient strategy to use in approaching a traffic light that is sighted at an unknown phase in its cycle is discussed. Included are calculations, results, and conclusions. (KR)

Described are some ways in which individual states code driver's license numbers. The encoding of month, date of birth, year of birth, sex, and others involving elementary mathematics and the use of an elaborate system of hashing functions in describing the first, middle, and last names are discussed. (KR)

Presented is a combinatorial problem based on the Hash House Harriers rule which states that the route of the run should not have previously been traversed by the club. Discovered is how many weeks the club can meet before the rule has to be broken. (KR)

Courses below calculus need to be refocused to emphasise conceptual understanding and realistic applications via mathematical modelling rather than an overarching focus on developing algebraic skills that may be needed for calculus. Without understanding the concepts, students will not be able to transfer the mathematics to new situations or to…

There is a call for change in College Algebra. The traditional focus on skill development is failing, resulting in withdrawal and failure rates that are excessive. In addition, too many students who are successful do not continue on to take a successive mathematics course. The Institute for Mathematics Learning at West Virginia University has been…

Mathematics is usually seen as a field in which there is value-free. Such a situation causes only a few studies about values teaching to be done in mathematics education. But, mathematics is a field that has various values in it, and that must be considered seriously from this perspective. Values are taught implicitly rather than explicitly in…

Ithaca College, in New York, has developed and tested a projects-based first-year calculus course over the last 3 years which uses the graphs of functions and physical phenomena to illustrate and motivate the major concepts of calculus and to introduce students to mathematical modeling. The course curriculum is designed to: (1) emphasize on the…

This study analyzed data to identify courses which have been associated with improved mathematics and quantitative reasoning ability among students who enter college with high verbal skills but low math skills. The study used the Coursework Cluster Analytic Model (CCAM) to analyze the course sequences of students with high verbal and low math…