MATH TOOLS NEWSLETTER - September 23, 2011 - No. 101 ***"WHAT MATH MEANS TO ME" ART CONTEST http://mathforum.org/pd/mymath2011.html Put your students' artwork on the cover of McGraw-Hill's latest math program, and your class could win nearly $15,000 in classroom resources -- including a Math Forum Problems of the Week class account! To learn more about this new K-5 curriculum and inspire the artwork that your students might put on its cover, visit: http://www.mheonline.com/ The "What Math Means to Me" Art Contest ends Saturday, October 29. ***NEW CURRENT PROBLEM OF THE WEEK: PRIMARY POWS Thanks in part to recent feedback, we've decided to roll out a fifth current Problem of the Week service! Until we finish re-coding our software to make the Primary PoW visible everywhere, please find it on the calendar, alongside the schedule for our four other services: http://mathforum.org/pow/support/ This launch also means that, by the end of the 2011-2012 school year, current PoW members will enjoy access to a grand total of 100 PoWs -- all still for only $25: http://mathforum.org/pow/productinfo.html Not yet a member? Register a free trial account: http://mathforum.org/products/trial.html Or just download free samples of PoWs: http://mathforum.org/pow/teacher/samples.html \|/ As you browse the catalog, please take a moment to rate a resource, comment on it, review it -- join an existing conversation, or start a new discussion! ***FEATURED DISCUSSION geom construction software with compass -> arcs, not circles http://mathforum.org/mathtools/discuss.html?&do=m&thread=g__h_tool__g-4 jdad explains, "My son is taking geometry and has physical difficulty writing (he has a tremor), so doing compass and straight edge constructions is very frustrating for him even though he understands the principles. I've been trying to find some software for him to use, so he can create neat, accurate work with less frustration." ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Wolfram Pre-Algebra Course Assistant http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/134262/ Wolfram Alpha LLC The Wolfram Pre-Algebra Course Assistant solves specific pre-algebra problems on the fly. This app covers many pre-algebra topics. It is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 3.2 or later. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Go Big Papa? http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/133799/ Mathalicious In addition to the regular build-your-own pizzas, Papa John's also offers a number of specialty pizzas, from The Works to Garden Fresh to Hawaiian BBQ Chicken. They sound delicious, but are they actually a good deal? In this lesson we'll write and evaluate expressions to calculate how much it would cost to build each specialty pizza topping-by-topping. We'll then calculate the savings two ways -- in dollars and as a percent -- to determine whether specialty pizzas are really worth it. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Spinning Spinners http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/139922/ Actis Ltd. Select from seven different sets of spinners and set the desired number of spins. The two spinners selected can be spun up to 1 million times. The scores are counted and a bar graph displays the data. ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Coin Box http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/134190/ NCTM: Illuminations Learn how to count, collect, exchange, and make change for coins. The coin tiles help you count as you learn the value of each coin. How many of the games can you master? ***FEATURED TOOL Tool: Geometry Toolkit http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/139925/ Ventura Educational Systems Use the discovery approach to mathematics while your students explore six different simulated geometry environments. Built-in lessons provide individualized support allowing students to progress while becoming familiar with different geometric concepts. ***FEATURED TECHNOLOGY POW Technology PoW: Patio Stones http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tpow/23642/ Suzanne Alejandre How many stones did Kathy need to buy to pave an area in her yard? NOTE: A free login is required. Sign up using the link on the login page, or use your existing KenKen or Problems of the Week login--see this page for details: http://mathforum.org/tpow/ 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/ Twitter Feed http://mathforum.org/pd/twitter.html Blogs http://mathforum.org/blogs/ Facebook http://www.facebook.com/themathforumatdrexel \`. .--------------.___________) \ |//////////////|___________[ ] `--------------' ) ( '-' The Math Forum @ Drexel -- 23 September 2011