MATH TOOLS NEWSLETTER - MARCH 6, 2009 - No. 73 ***ONLINE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS (free) For teachers of students in grades 5-9, we offer online workshops: Technology and Algebraic Reasoning http://mathforum.org/nsdl_mathtech/online/ Tools for Thinking about Probability http://mathforum.org/nsdl_mathtech/online/prob.html Applications will be open March 16 through April 13 for the sessions scheduled to begin April 20. The $100 workshop fee is currently covered by a grant from the National Science Foundation. For a fee of $25 to cover administrative costs, 1.5 Continuing Education Units (15 contact hours) can be provided. ***ONLINE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES Enroll in Math Forum online PD courses, fully moderated by Math Forum staff. Registration is currently open for a variety of six-week courses scheduled for spring and summer: http://mathforum.org/pd/dates.html All individuals who successfully complete the course will receive a certificate indicating that they have completed 15 hours of professional development. This is equivalent to 1.5 Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Current prices for each course start at $149. http://mathforum.org/pd/ ***FEATURED DISCUSSION pantograph http://mathforum.org/mathtools/discuss.html?&do=m&thread=___disc_894_g-1 ABlax wrote, "I need ideas for pantograph lessons. Any website links or suggestions would be greatly appreciated." ***FEATURED ACTIVITY Activity: Ferris Wheel Noticing/Wondering Activity http://mathforum.org/mathtools/activity/76481/ Lillian Ray Students write what they notice and wonder about a person riding a Ferris wheel, and then use TI-Nspire(TM) technology to measure quantities and develop a mathematical model describing the situation. ***FEATURED ACTIVITY Activity: MathThink - Activity Dice Difference Problem Linda Fahlberg-Stojanovska http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/74648/ This an applet for determining the expectation of winning if differences of 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 are used to set up a dice game. For instance, if Player A has 1, 2, and 3 as differences, does he have an advantage over Player B, who has differences of 4 and 5? And what is the ratio of the wins for Player A vs. the wins of Player B if numerous rolls of the dice are used, say 60? ***FEATURED ACTIVITY Activity: Area and Perimeter of a Trapezoid (Coordinate Geometry) - Math Open Reference http://mathforum.org/mathtools/activity/76478/ John Page An interactive applet and associated web page showing how to find the area and perimeter of a trapezoid from the coordinates of its vertices. The trapezoid can be either parallel to the axes or rotated. ***FEATURED ACTIVITY Activity: Definition and Properties of a Vertical Line (Coordinate Geomtery) - Math Open Reference http://mathforum.org/mathtools/activity/76437/ John Page An interactive applet and associated web page that show the definition of a vertical line in coordinate geometry. The applet has two points that the user can drag which define a line. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Equiangular Triangles - Math Open Reference http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/76365/ John Page An interactive applet and associated web page that demonstrate equiangular triangles (all interior angles congruent). The applet presents an equiangular triangle where the user can drag any vertex. As the vertex is dragged, the others move automatically to keep the triangle equiangular. The angles and side lengths are updated continuously to show that the all interior angles are always congruent. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Savings Account http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/74671/ Michael Backus Students model a savings account and answer some thought-provoking questions. Addition and multiplication as well as a few spreadsheet concepts are all that is needed for students to use the model. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Loan http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/74672/ Michael Backus Student model a loan they would like to take out. The only mathematical concepts required are addition and multiplication. Terminology and a few basic spreadsheet concepts need to be covered. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Portable Media Players http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/75656/ Michael Backus Students investigate the costs and storage capabilities of portable media players (e.g., iPods). ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Paycheck http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/75657/ Michael Backus Students calculate net income and discover how much money they pay in taxes and for benefits in the process. 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 -- 6 March 2009