MATH TOOLS NEWSLETTER - FEBRUARY 4, 2006 - No. 36 As you browse the catalog, please take a moment to rate a resource, comment on it, review it -- or start a new discussion! ***FEATURED TPOW tPoW: Building a House Suzanne Alejandre http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tpow/22862/ Use a Java applet from the Freudenthal Institute to help find the largest number of cubes and the smallest number of cubes to make the house pictured in the problem. ***FEATURED ACTIVITY Activity: Triangle Geometry eNLVM (Utah State University) http://mathforum.org/mathtools/activity/22444/ This eModule presents real-world problems that motivate students to work with triangle geometry. Interactive worksheets and diagrams with feedback help students learn to solve for unknown angles and sides of triangles. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Conic Sections Tom Leathrum http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/22764/ This applet allows the user to vary parameters in the "generalized" conic equation, ax^2 + bxy + cy^2 + dx + ey + f = 0, as well as displace graphs. Instructions and some discussion included. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Interpolation and Extrapolation: What is the Difference? Scott A. Sinex http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/22405/ The "interpolate or extrapolate" worksheet allows students to discover the difference between the two terms graphically with only an understanding of the equation of a line. The "aluminum can data" worksheet, which assumes students are familiar with linear regression, then explores the dangers of extrapolation as the linear model appears to breakdown. The instructions for usage are all included on each worksheet plus additional information given via comment cells. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Recursion Shodor: Project Interactivate http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/21749/ This activity graphs recursive functions of the form f(0) = C, defining f(n) based on f(n - 1). ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Math Doodles: Double Traits Daren Carstens http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/22356/ Each figure is made up of three traits: shape, number, and color. Click on any two figures to trade their locations. Rearrange the figures in the grid so that figures bordering each other share at least two traits. Earn points for every figure that is part of a network linked to the center figure on the grid. ***FEATURED DISCUSSION All Lesson Plans in Algebra on Computer http://mathforum.org/mathtools/discuss.html?&do=m&thread=a__h_lesson__g-1 Lil asks, "Has anyone tried any lessons using the Shodor program? If so, how did it go? Any tips? I am still trying to come up with an effective lesson for 8th grade Algebra students." ***FEATURED DISCUSSION Demise of Green Globs http://mathforum.org/mathtools/discuss.html?&do=m&thread=___tool__g-3 David Sunburst replies, "I spotted this thread and thought you would like to know that we and the product's authors have just begun development on a Mac OSX version of Green Globs that we hope can be released sometime in 2006." CHECK OUT THE MATH TOOLS SITE: Math Tools http://mathforum.org/mathtools/ Register http://mathforum.org/mathtools/register.html Discussions http://mathforum.org/mathtools/discuss.html Research Area http://mathforum.org/mathtools/research/ Developers Area http://mathforum.org/mathtools/developers/ Newsletter Archive http://mathforum.org/mathtools/newsletter/ \`. .--------------.___________) \ |//////////////|___________[ ] `--------------' ) ( '-' The Math Forum @ Drexel -- 4 February 2006