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Deb Russell

Mathematics

By Deb Russell, About.com Guide since 2002

10 Great Minds Every Math Students Should Know

Saturday April 23, 2011

Before you click on this link, can you name at least 5 of the great mathematicians? If you said Gauss, you definitely named one of them, just nine to go! Sir Issac Newton you say?  You're on a roll! Only 8 more to go! When you're ready to see the rest, read on.

Reading about the great mathematicians of the past is rather unique and interesting. Many of our math principles were discovered centuries ago and most students often don't realize this until later in their mathematical studies.  I for one was one of them. Read on and devour the information about the beginnings of math.

Pre-Algebra Worksheets

Wednesday April 20, 2011

Middle school math includes lots of topics in pre-algebra, all in support of preparing learners for algebra. Here are some free pre-algebra worksheets in PDF, many with answers on the second page:

Remember, practice leads to greater performance. If you have suggestions for concepts not listed, be sure to comment on what you would like to see.


TI-15 For Younger Learners

Saturday April 16, 2011

One of my colleague's favorite lines  in a math class was: 'Mathematicians are lazy, they're always looking for short cuts.'  He got a lot of laughs from his students and of course they loved to try and find the most efficient strategy to discover their answers and solutions.  Calculators, allow us to be efficient in math. I support the use of calculators in math but I also value the importance of students understanding the concept prior to using a calculator.

I like the TI-15 Calculator because it's not just an ordinary calculator. It's a teaching calculator and a fantastic learning tool. It allows learners to work on concepts like:

  • rounding
  • exponents
  • fractions
  • order of operations
  • conversions
  • percents

 It even has a special key to support problem solving. It really helps learners make connections with authentic situations. It has a 2-line display and supports learners from aged 8 to 12.

Sales Tax

Thursday April 14, 2011

All the math you'll ever need........ Every once in awhile, individuals will ask me: Just what math do I really need to know?  And, as much as I'd like to answer this question with a set of 'must knows',  the truth  is, that it will differ for each individual and it is often dependent upon one's individual needs.  What math is involved in your work? What math to you need day to day? One thing I can tell you is that sales tax is something that will likely apply to all individuals.   Therefore, here are a few tutorials for those basic math needs:


Quadratic Word Problems

Sunday April 10, 2011

So you've been working with quadratic functions and doing plenty of exercises. You must be ready for a few word problems! We have just what you're looking for!

See more tutorials on Quadratic Functions from contributing writer Jennifer Ledwith.

Money Worksheets

Thursday April 7, 2011

Learning about money is part of the curriculum that begins as early as kindergarten.  Typically, it's fun to use money when learning the concepts as it keeps learning authentic. However, eventually students will need to problem solve money amounts and demonstrate their understanding. These worksheets are great for young learners and some of the concepts addressed also tend to appear on those large scale assessments.

Rise Over Run

Tuesday April 5, 2011

Here's a quick review about Slope,  something you won't escape in high school math!  Most of us tend to commit the formula to memory, some of us don't. But this is indeed a formula that is worth memorizing. For a quick mini- tutorial, try Jennifer Ledwith's 'How to Find the Slope of a Line with a Graph.

See also: practice worksheets: Sketch the line, given the slope with answers on the second page.

I Have, Who Has......

Saturday April 2, 2011

If you are a teacher and haven't heard about the 'I Have, Who Has' math card game, you've come to the right place.  These games consist of 20 to 30 cards with questions on them. The cards get printed out on to heavy card stock, shuffled and handed out to your students. Double up if you have too many cards.  Any student can begin by reading the card. For instance, if the game is about multiplication, the student would read "I have 49, who has 8 x 8? Each student check their  card to see if they have 64, the student who has 64 reads their card "I have 64, who has 72. The process is repeated until you are back at the beginning.

Ready to play? Here are a few for you:

Once you get going, start making your own cards. You can make them for any concept and change the level of difficulty.

Chess and Math

Wednesday March 30, 2011

Chess can help to improve math performance, one step at a time.  And, although I haven't played chess in many years,  there's no doubt that chess and math go hand in hand. Why you ask?  Think of what is required in both:  problem solving, logic, deductive reasoning,  analytical thinking, and strategizing just to name a few.  So, if we improve those strategis through chess, those improved strategies would naturally help scores in math.  Need more convincing? Give it a try and read on.

The TI-Nspire May Just Have Some Competition

Sunday March 27, 2011

The Casio Education Team  launched its PRIZM(tm) Graphing Calculator in January and they claim it will transform how technology is used in the classroom. PRIZM(tm) is the first in Casio's next-generation line of graphing calculators.  It has a high-resolution color LCD and a variety of other functions designed to assist with math lessons.  TI has been leading the calculator wars for some time now but will Casio finally offer something that brings them back into the running? Some claim it will.

It retails for approximately $129.00.  The Casio is great! There are plenty of You Tube videos on it and a great manual. Am I picking it over the TI Nspire? Not yet,  at this time, it would be a tie and I'd be happy putting the Prism into my shopping basket.

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