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Subject: Re: Subtle Math Questions
Summary: There is hope if you care
Message-ID: <1991May3.173421.27755@cec1.wustl.edu>
Date: 3 May 91 17:34:21 GMT
References: <1991May2.195751.22316@psych.toronto.edu> <1991May3.124454.12758@watdragon.waterloo.edu>
Organization: Washington University, St. Louis MO
Lines: 24

It is not all that hard to liven math for students in grades 9-13. Anyone
can do it; it doesn't even need to be a teacher, just anyone who will talk
to the student a little. If you care about math or science, work up a good
talk for your neighborhood school's math or science club. The teachers in
charge are usually the best ones, and welcome outside speakers.
The Mathematics Association of America still has a program, in most sections,
to arrange such visits, I believe.
	If you encounter a youngster who is studying algebra, ask if he or 
she has been told why the rules are meaningful-- usually nothing has been 
said about this. Then spend a few minutes showing that in clock arithmetic
you have funny things like 10 + 5 = 3 and 3*4= 0, and on the other hand
the base 2 "odd, even" arithmetic *does* satisfy all the rules.
	I hope others have more examples of this type of goodie; we ought
to collect them-- they seem to help, now and then.
     
From: delliott@cec2.wustl.edu (Dave Elliott)
Path: cec2!delliott



                                David L. Elliott
				Dept. of Systems Science and Mathematics
                                Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130
				delliott@CEC2.WUSTL.EDU