Volume 3, Number 32

10 August 1998 Vol. 3, No. 32 THE MATH FORUM INTERNET NEWS WebMath | Shapari | TI and Order of Operations - math-teach WEBMATH - Tom Bensky http://www.webmath.com/ Instant solutions to math problems: you may type your problem directly into this Web site and get a step-by-step solution. WebMath can solve many introductory-level algebra problems; topics from trigonometry, advanced algebra, and calculus are in the works. Some WebMath solutions use Java for computer graphics and animation. Current choices include: - Everyday math figuring a tip, sale price, converting temperatures - Numbers add, factor, GCF... - Fractions reducing - Graphing points, lines, circles - Simplifying expressions powers, products, like terms... - Polynomials add/subtract, multiply, divide, exponents... - Factoring polynomials using GCF, difference of two squares, trinomials - Quadratic equations solve by factoring, the quadratic formula... - Word problems percents -|-\-/-|-\-/-|-\-/-|-\-/-|-\-/-|-\-/-|-\-/-|-\-/-|-\-/-|-\-/-|- SHAPARI - Spelunk Computing http://www.SpelunkComputing.com/ Windows 95/98/NT software that emphasizes abstract thinking, creativity, and open-ended exploration for ages 4 and up. Shapari aims to combine the qualities of yesterday's classic toys with today's technology. Designed to allow children to produce intriguing abstract and fractal patterns from simple shapes and operations, the program offers 5 levels of difficulty. Children can challenge their visualization abilities by matching colorful computer-generated patterns and playing with iterations to explore the self-similarity of fractals. A trial version is available for downloading, and the summer 1998 price is U.S. $15. -|-\-/-|-\-/-|-\-/-|-\-/-|-\-/-|-\-/-|-\-/-|-\-/-|-\-/-|-\-/-|- TI AND ORDER OF OPERATIONS - a math-teach discussion A conversation that begins with a comparison of mnemonics for order of operations [PEMDAS, GEMA] (16 July 1998): http://mathforum.org/epigone/math-teach/snunzhemerm/ and continues with a discussion of inconsistencies and ambiguities in the ways that calculators handle fractions, exponents, etc.... \|/ - TI and order of operations: (23 July 1998): http://mathforum.org/epigone/math-teach/weeswilzhul "On the TI-82, for example, 2/3x means 2/(3x) rather than the more usual (2/3)x. This inconsistancy was corrected on the TI-83." - Maxine Bridger "Changing the order of operations is not a correction, it is a choice. Correction would imply an error. Inconsistency is indicated only if there were some internal contradiction." - Ron Ferguson \|/ - Re: TI an order of operations (24 July 1998): http://mathforum.org/epigone/math-teach/thilvarkhax "It wasn't until the advent of computers that people dealt carefully with the problem of what 1/2x really should mean." - Lou Talman "... there is a good reason for the lack of a universally understood convention here: Nobody needs it. Only in a schoolbook would one ever see something like 3-2+5-6*7/4*3-5+14/5*3..." - Ralph A. Raimi "List members might wish to take a look at a 'structural' representation we have included in V2.04 of GrafEq... downloadable from http://www.peda.com/grafeq/down.html " - Gary Tupper \|/ - Re: TI order of operations (27 July 1998): http://mathforum.org/epigone/math-teach/quoogoxsni "I noticed that my TI-92 says that 4^3^2 is 262,144, but Microsoft Excel says that it is 4096..." - Guy F. Brandenburg "I was taught that the rule has always been 'start at the top & work down'..." - David C. Purdy "... difficulties with typography have instructional implications. (If you don't believe that typography can be difficult, ask yourself why Knuth devoted so much time to it.)..." - Ron Ferguson For information about the math-teach discussion group, see: http://mathforum.org/discussions/about/math-teach.html -|-\-/-|-\-/-|-\-/-|-\-/-|-\-/-|-\-/-|-\-/-|-\-/-|-\-/-|-\-/-|- CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE: The Math Forum http://mathforum.org/ Ask Dr. Math http://mathforum.org/dr.math/ Problems of the Week http://mathforum.org/students/ Internet Resources http://mathforum.org/~steve/ Join the Math Forum http://mathforum.org/join.forum.html Send comments to the Math Forum Internet Newsletter editors _o \o_ __| \ / |__ o _ o/ \o/ __|- __/ \__/o \o | o/ o/__/ /\ /| | \ \ / \ / \ /o\ / \ / \ / | / \ / \

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