Volume 5, Number 17
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24 April 2000 Vol. 5, No. 17
THE MATH FORUM INTERNET NEWS
Census 2000 | Algebra: Help - Mishanski / Modules - Stapel
Exploratorium's Science of Baseball
CENSUS 2000: THE POLITICS BEHIND THE NUMBERS
http://www.policy.com/issuewk/1999/0712_82/
The decennial census in the United States determines the
number of delegates each state can send to the House of
Representatives, provides policy-makers with information
necessary to allocate federal and state funding, and gathers
needed information for planning schools, hospitals, roads,
and police forces.
This tour of the controversy over statistical sampling in
the census covers topics such as:
- A Snapshot of America
- The Sampling Debate - in favor of and opposed to sampling
- Multiracial Americans and the Census - in favor of and
opposed to a multiracial box
The site draws extensively on policy statements and position
papers by government bureaus, elected officials,
non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and citizen action
groups. With links to other population and census resources
on the Web, and an interactive bulletin board.
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ALGEBRA HELP - Mishanski
http://www.algebrahelp.com/
A comprehensive online source for help with algebra,
offering the latest technology, lessons to teach or refresh
old skills, calculators that show how to solve problems
step-by-step, and interactive worksheets for testing skills.
To be notified of updates and additions to the site, sign up
for its announcements newsletter.
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ALGEBRA MODULES (PURPLEMATH) - Stapel
http://www.purplemath.com/modules/modules.htm
Purplemath's algebra modules give practical tips, hints,
and examples, and point out common mistakes. They are
cross-referenced, and some contain short quizzes.
Contents include:
- Basic Triangle Values - Radicals (square roots)
- Calculators - Scientific Notation
- Canceling Units - Slope and Graphing
- Domain and Range - Slope and y-intercept
- Exponents - Slope of a straight line
- Factoring Quadratics - Solving Inequalities
- Function Notation - Straight-line equations
- Functions - Translation (word problems)
- Graphing "distance" problems
- Induction Proofs "investment" problems
- Intercepts "mixture" problems
- Percent of... "work" problems
- Piecewise Functions: - Variables
definition of - Vertical Line Test
graphing of
Homework guidelines list examples, with commentary, of
acceptable and unacceptable solutions. Also an online
study-skills survey, and links to others' algebra sites.
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EXPLORATORIUM'S SCIENCE OF BASEBALL
http://www.exploratorium.edu/baseball/
Interactive (Shockwave) exhibits from San Francisco's science
museum include Fastball Reaction Time (can you hit a 90-mph
fastball?) and Scientific Slugger (see what makes a home
run: vary the angle of the ball, bat speed, and pitch speed,
then watch the distance the ball travels).
Articles include "Take Me Out to the Besuboru Game," about
baseball in Japan; and "Biological Baseball," which offers
some facts and reflections on human reflexes, reaction time,
and decision-making.
Activities include:
- Thrown for a Curve (learn how to throw a curveball,
screwball, or slider)
- Finding the Sweet Spot (of a baseball bat)
- Bouncing Balls (how high?)
- Handle Forces (get a grip!)
- Basketball (about the bounce of the ball)
"How Far Can You Hit One?" examines the influence of
atmospheric conditions, particularly wind, on fly balls.
Read "The Girls of Summer" tour to learn about the first
professional female ballplayers. "Putting Something on the
Ball" discusses the physics of pitching, especially the
phenomenon of transfer of momentum. With a "time machine"
on the history of the national pastime, animations, video
and audio (RealMedia) clips, and a bibliography.
Project participants include Louisville Slugger, the National
Baseball Hall of Fame, the Oakland A's, the San Francisco
Giants, and Total Baseball.
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