Another Fine Math You Ve Got Me Into

Sixteen columns from the French edition of Scientific American feature oddball characters and wacky wordplay in a mathematical wonderland of puzzles and games that also imparts significant mathematical ideas. 1992 edition.

Provides a history of magic squares and similar structures, describing their construction and classification, along with informaiton on newly discovered objects.

After being diagnosed with terminal cancer, a professor shares the lessons he's learned—about living in the present, building a legacy, and taking full advantage of the time you have—in this life-changing classic. "We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." —Randy Pausch A lot of professors give talks titled "The Last Lecture." Professors are asked to consider their demise and to ruminate on what matters most to them. And while they speak, audiences can't help but mull over the same question: What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance? If we had to vanish tomorrow, what would we want as our legacy? When Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon, was asked to give such a lecture, he didn't have to imagine it as his last, since he had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. But the lecture he gave—"Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams"—wasn't about dying. It was about the importance of overcoming obstacles, of enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every moment (because "time is all you have . . . and you may find one day that you have less than you think"). It was a summation of everything Randy had come to believe. It was about living. In this book, Randy Pausch has combined the humor, inspiration and intelligence that made his lecture such a phenomenon and given it an indelible form. It is a book that will be shared for generations to come.

For courses in secondary or middle school math. This text focuses on all the complex aspects of teaching mathematics in today's classroom and the most current NCTM standards. It demonstrates how to creatively incorporate the standards into teaching along with inquiry-based instructional strategies. Using one expansive case study that follows a mathematics teacher through his first year in the profession, the text illustrates how to lead pupils toward meaningful mathematics and strategies for developing mathematics skills. Interactive in its approach, the text includes an abundance of illustrative examples, mini case studies, cooperative learning activities, field-based activities, and transitional activities.

David Whitin and Sandra Wilde continue to explore the importance of children's literature in the teaching and learning of mathematics. They show how books help portray mathematics as it really is: a tool for making sense of our world.

Dear Reader, My fondest wish is that this book will assist you to succeed with math. Feel free to read it in any order that works for you. This is a book for you to control. The techniques and exercises are here to help you, not to overwhelm or discourage you. If you feel overwhelmed or discouraged, back off and return later. But do return. The rewards are many and great. I have included information I have found useful to math students during 30 years of teaching, so pick and choose. Refer to this book when you need a new and different strategy. Dawn Bigelow, a superb third-grade teacher I taught beside, told me that when she went to a conference she wanted to return withthree new ideas.More than three and she would be too overwhelmed to try them. Fewer than three and she had wasted her time going to the conference. Three was the magic number. When Dawn returned to her third-graders with three new ideas, she could easily incorporate them into the classroom system she already had in progress. You have a system in progress for learning. You only need three new ideas each time you come to this book. More than that and you will be overwhelmed. Fewer than that and you will be wasting your time. Modify your learning system slowly and surely. Incorporate winning ideas and strategies that fit who you are and what you want to accomplish. Skim over the Contents. Mark the topics that look the most promising. Chapter 2, along with the list below, can direct you according to your needs. Features of this book and their purpose are: Introduction and Chapter 1: Motivation to excite you and help you gather courage to confront the blues. Chapter 2: Explanation of routes through this book based on your needs. Chapters 3-6: Effective methods to control overwhelming negative thoughts and feelings about math (or life). Chapters 7-9: Self-discovery about who you are and how you learn best. Chapters 10, 13, 14, and 15: Study skills to use in math class. Chapters 11 and 12: Discussion of shyness and classroom/teacher issues. Chapter 16: Problem-solving strategies. Chapter 17: Test-taking strategies. "Pushing Your Limits," Chapters 1-17: Journal activities to help you question, ponder, plan, and evaluate your math life. "Mastering Math's Mysteries," Chapters 3-6: Practice with numbers and patterns. "Mastering Math's Mysteries," Chapters 7-13: Fraction practice to shore up skills that math students tend to avoid. "Mastering Math's Mysteries," Chapter 15: Practice with spatial visualization. "Mastering Math's Mysteries," Chapters 14, 16, and 17: Practice with strategies discussed in the chapters. "More Mastering Math's Mysteries," in the Appendix: More challenging math practice for the brave of heart. Solutions to "Mastering Math's Mysteries" exercises, in the Appendix. This book is not designed as a math textbook but rather to accompany a math textbook or to prepare you for a math textbook. The math exercises here are just for you to wet your feet. Because I know that every math student brings different experiences and needs, I had difficulty deciding which math topics to include. I chose fractions because they are universally avoided and disliked. The potential exists for you to feel terrific soon if you face them. Be patient with yourself as you wade into new territory. Being curious and willing to experiment can help you to swim sooner than you ever thought possible. Use a life preserver when you need it and never swim alone. My best, Cheryl Ooter