MATH TOOLS NEWSLETTER - JUNE 5, 2009 - No. 76 ***NEW YORK TIMES KNOWLEDGE NETWORK COURSES http://www.nytimesknownow.com/professional-development/ The New York Times is proud to welcome the Math Forum to its Knowledge Network of prestigious educational institutions delivering lifelong learning programs. View syllabi, testimonials from past participants, and registration information on the Math Forum site: http://mathforum.org/pd/ Registration closes at 5 pm ET this Friday, June 5, for these courses scheduled to begin next week: * Problem Solving Strategies * PoW Class Membership: Resources & Strategies for Effective Implementation * Teaching Math with the Problems of the Week * Problem Solving in Geometry and Measurement, Course 1 * Moving Students from Arithmetic to Algebra...one step at a time * The Math Forum's Problem Solving Process For $149 enjoy connecting with Math Forum community members, reflect on mathematical practices for you and your students, and earn 1.5 CEUs. Don't miss out on our spring special ending June 30th! Combine an upgrade to a class membership or renew your current membership and course registration and receive up to 33% off the total cost. Contact us at 800 756 7823 option 1 or http://mathforum.org/redirect-sales.html \|/ ***FEATURED DISCUSSION Simple question...or not http://mathforum.org/mathtools/discuss.html?&do=m&thread=a_____g-34 Susan asks, "Is a constant function a linear function? I've seen it argued both ways. Please weigh in!" ***FEATURED DISCUSSION sudoku fractions edition http://mathforum.org/mathtools/discuss.html?&do=m&thread=m2___activity__g-1 DanielAjoy announces, "I want to share the Sudoku fractions puzzles that I developed over the past couple of weeks." ***FEATURED ACTIVITY Activity: Estimating the Size of Fractions by Using Benchmarks http://mathforum.org/mathtools/activity/81366/ Victoria Miles This activity helps students to understand when to round fractions to 0, 1/2 or 1. By sliding a lever, students create visual models to represent fractions. Students decide whether the fractions are closest in size to 0, 1/2, or 1. Students then look for patterns and come up with a rule of rounding fractions to benchmark values of 0, 1/2 or 1. Extension problems involving mixed numbers follow the interactive exploration. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Multiplying and Dividing Signed Numbers http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/81437/ a Quia web subscriber Play a concentration or memory style game using the rules for multiplying and dividing integers. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Long multiplication http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/81198/ Alexander Bogomolny A Java applet presents multiplication of two numbers in a standard, long form. Options include displaying and removing trailing zeros and skipping a product by a zero digit. Both numbers are easily modifiable. The applet demonstrates multiplication in various bases. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Product of Simple Fractions http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/81159/ Alexander Bogomolny This is a Java applet that shows two simple fractions and their product, all three graphically illustrated. The two factors are easily modifiable by clicking on the numerators and/or denominators. The applet also features a Simplify button, which rewrites fractions in lowest terms. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Online Grapher http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/81229/ Franz Embacher, Petra Oberhuemer, University of Vienna This Java applet can be used to graph functions using function notation. It allows zooming and rescaling. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Fair Division: Method of Lone Divider http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/81204/ Alexander Bogomolny An interactive tool for the study and implementation of the Lone Divider method, in which one player divides the goods into pieces and each player states which piece they would accept as a fair share. The tool allows for setting up the choosers' preferences and suggests a possible fair division of goods based on such a setup. 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 -- 5 June 2009