The Great International "Math on Keys" Book (Ts, S) The Staff of the Texas Instruments Learning Center Review by: Thomas Bajema Sr. The Mathematics Teacher, Vol. 70, No. 7 (OCTOBER 1977), pp. 627-628 Published by: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27961015 . Accessed: 13/09/2014 15:45 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact
[email protected]. . National Council of Teachers of Mathematics is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The Mathematics Teacher. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 162.203.214.216 on Sat, 13 Sep 2014 15:45:57 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions http://www.jstor.org/action/showPublisher?publisherCode=nctm http://www.jstor.org/stable/27961015?origin=JSTOR-pdf http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp The book is a description of one kind of educational process and has only one small section specific to mathematics. The thesis is that families should decide what their children should learn in school. The book describes such a system now being used at St. Jean's School in Duluth. It is a family-involved school, but not a free-choice school for all because all alternatives cannot be provided. It is an interesting development, and the material must be read carefully before one tries to implement such a program.?Peak. Finite Mathematics: With Applications in Business, Bi ology, and Behavioral Sciences. (Tt), Margaret L. Liai and Charles D. Miller. 1977, 434 pp., $12.95. Scott, Foresman & Co., 1900 East Lake Ave., Glen view, IL 60025. This hardbound introductory course in mathemat ics for students of business, biology, and the behav ioral sciences requires a knowledge of intermediate algebra. It includes such topics as relations and sets, functions, mathematics of finance, matrix theory, linear systems and programming (simplex method), probability, decision theory, and statistics. The most outstanding feature of this lecture-dis cussion text is the many examples and cases taken from, and provided by, such corporations as Booz, Allen and Hamilton, The FMC Corporation, South ern Pacific Railroad, American Airlines, and Signal Oil, as well as contributing researchers from the sci ences. Many times these problems are "contrived" by authors and are not very effective. But in this case, the actual real-life situations from industry and the sci ences will help maintain high interest among the stu dents. The problem-solving topics include Best Loca tions For Warehouses, Estimating Population Size in Archaeology, Linear Programming in the Railroad Industry and Water Pollution, Bidding On a Potential Oil Field, Medical Diagnosis, and Predicting Gasoline Station Sales Volume. Featured also are mathematics questions from CPA examinations categorized accord ing to the chapters of the text. Finite Math is well ordered, is in readable paragraph form, and will give students excellent introductory preparation for future studies in the mathematics of industry and behavioral sciences.?Spangler. Finite Mathematics (Tt), F. Lane Hardy. 1977, xiv + 448 pp., $11.95. Harper & Row, Publishers, 10 East 53d St., New York, NY 10022. This is a fine book. It contains the usual topics found in texts on finite mathematics, and the quality of the exposition, particularly in light of the intended audience, is unusually good. The text was written for college freshmen whose limited background would prevent the use of such excellent books as the classic by Kemeny, Snell, and Thompson. The author accom modates his intended audience by introducing con cepts with examples that are developed with great clarity and fine detail. The book has chapters on sets, combinatorics, prob ability, linear equations and matrices, linear program ming, and statistical concepts, and there is an appen dix that contains several computer programs. The chapter on combinatorics is excellent. It contains a good explanation of the "counting principle," which is then used, along with tree diagrams, to explain why an ?-?l?ment set has 2n subsets. The chapter also has a beautiful development of the formula and its relation to Pascal's triangle. In the chapter on linear equations and matrices, the author gives a clear concise rationale for computing the inverse of a matrix A by elementary row transformations of A and the identity matrix I. The section on finite Markov chains is well done, with good examples including one that models the transmission of an imaginary conversation between Richard Nixon and Billy Graham concerning Watergate. In the chapter on linear programming the author clearly demonstrates why the extreme values of a linear function occur on the vertices of a polygon. This book deserves consideration as a text for a course in finite mathematics.?Brieske. The Functions of Algebra and Trigonometry (Tt), Ken neth P. Bogart. 1977, xvi + 512 pp., $13.50. Hough ton Mifflin Co., One Beacon St., Boston, MA 02107. "A person observes a fungus growing on a lily pond. The area covered by the fungus doubles each day. The person?being lazy?decides to do nothing until the fungus covers one-fourth the pond. Once the job is begun, how much time is available to defeat the fungus before it covers the entire pond?" Most of the exercise sets are loaded with problems like this. Functions of Algebra and Trigonometry is a quality text designed for the dedicated student who is very well versed in intermediate algebra and geometry. It includes such topics as basic function concepts, linear functions, linear inequalities, linear equations, linear programming, quadratic functions, arithmetic of functions, polynomial and rational functions, com position and inverses of functions, exponential and log functions, trigonometric functions, and functions whose domain is a set of integers. For the convenience of the student and instructor, exercises marked with daggers have answers and some hints in the back of the book. Starred exercises are more challenging and are of greater difficulty. The trigonometry section is too abbreviated and is weak on trigonometric identities for good calculus preparation. In general, however, this hardbound, lecture-orien ted text will give excellent preparation for a functional approach to a study of calculus.?Spangler. The Great International "Math on Keys" Book (Ts, S), The Staff of the Texas Instruments Learning Center. 1976, iii + 200 pp., $4.95. Texas Instruments, P.O. Box 5012, Dallas, TX 75222. The Great International "Math on Keys" Book is an excellent book to familiarize mathematics students October 1977 627 This content downloaded from 162.203.214.216 on Sat, 13 Sep 2014 15:45:57 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp with calculators. The text relates the calculator to algebra, geometry, trigonometry, vectors, business, statistics, physics, chemistry, and numerous other sub jects. Games and puzzles are also considered. The book also contains hundreds of useful conversions and tables pertaining to area, volume, the elements, func tions, and so on. On reading this book you will find many catchy phrases and interesting sketches that greatly add to the appeal. The only drawback would have to be the fact that the book is based on working with a specific calcu lator; the Texas Instruments TI-30 (or SR-40). Most problems are described in key stroke sequences per taining to TI calculators. If the student knows how to use his own type of calculator, there is no problem.? Thomas Bajema, Sr., Sehome High School, Bellingham, Wash. Lessons in Essential Mathematics, Book II: Algebra (Tt), Robert A. Nowlan and Cecilia Lowe. 1977, xiii + 504 pp., $7.95. Harper & Row Publishers, 10 East 53d St., New York, NY 10022. This text provides college students with an excellent review of basic high school algebra. It is divided into four units: universal arithmetic; linear systems; poly nomial, rational, and radical expressions; and qua dratic equations and functions. Each unit, and each lesson within each unit, begins with a statement of behavioral objectives and ends with a test. The text is especially suitable for independent study, since it is well written, the important concepts are motivated and explained with care, and answers to all problems and tests are provided.?Brieske. Peer and Cross-Age Tutoring in the Schools: An Indi vidualized Supplement to Group Instruction (L), Sophie Bloom. 1976, iii + 62 pp. Villa Press, 847 Willis Ave., Albertson, NY 11507. The author is a reading coordinator, and as would be expected, the illustrations and processes presented are largely in the area of reading. However, the ap proach does lend itself to mathematical applications. Information appropriate for mathematics includes procedures for selecting tutors; considerations impor tant in selecting students who will be tutored; the general training needed by tutors; the characteristics of needed materials; and bridging the activities of the regular classroom, the tutor, and the student for con tinuous progress, there is a good bibliography, a set of annotated research studies in the field of peer and cross-age tutoring in reading, and a few of a general nature.?Peak. Practical Mathematics (Tt), Russell V. Person and Vernon J. Person. 1977, xiii + 589 pp., $12.95. John Wiley & Sons, 605 Third Ave., New York, NY 10016. This hardbound, lecture text contains a review of arithmetic, geometry, algebra, and trigonometry. The algebra section covers the same topics as a formal elementary algebra course but in abbreviated form. EXAMINATIONS IN MATHEMATICS FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS The Annual High School Mathematics Examinations?Prior Examinations,1969-77. Specimen sets of prior examinations. Each set contains a question booklet, a solution key, and a copy of the pamphlet How about a Career with Mathematics? 35 each set; specify year desired. The U.S.A. and International Mathematical Olympiads, 1976-77. These pamphlets contain the problems and solutions to the 1976 and 1977 Olympiads. 1976?35 ; 1977?50 . Summaries of Results and Awards, 1969-77. These publications describe the results and awards from prior Annual High School Mathematics Examinations. The 1977 edition is based on reports received from some 6 000 participating schools and 340 000 registered students. All prior-year summaries from 1969 through 1977 are available for $1 each. Order from Dr. Walter E. Mientka, Executive Director Annual High School Mathematics Examination Department of Mathematics and Statistics 917 Oldfather Hall University of Nebraska Lincoln, NE 68588 A minimum order of $1.20 is required. Payment must accompany each order; all prices include postage and handling. Make checks payable to MAA Committee on High School Contests. 628 Mathematics Teacher This content downloaded from 162.203.214.216 on Sat, 13 Sep 2014 15:45:57 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp Article Contents p. 627 p. 628 Issue Table of Contents The Mathematics Teacher, Vol. 70, No. 7 (OCTOBER 1977), pp. 563-640 Front Matter reader? reactions! [pp. 563-565] STUDENT PROJECTS IN GEOMETRY [pp. 567-570] MATHEMATICS PROJECTS IN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL [pp. 573-578] YOUR BIORHYTHM AND THE SINE CURVE [pp. 581-583] CONSTRUCTIONS WITH OBSTRUCTIONS [pp. 584-588] THE SIXTH U.S.A. MATHEMATICAL OLYMPIAD [pp. 590-592] sharing teaching ideas Helping Students Understand the Distributive Property [pp. 594-595] Converting from Base 10: Nonintegral Bases? [pp. 595-596] Rapid Mental Squaring of Mixed Numbers [pp. 596-597] Some Nonstandard Binary Operations and Their Properties [pp. 597-598] ACTIVITIES NUMBERS AND MYSTICISM [pp. 599-602] PATTERNS OF REPEATING DECIMALS: A SUBJECT WORTH REPEATING [pp. 604-605] HYPERCUBES, HYPERWINDOWS, AND HYPERSTARS [pp. 606-609] THERE IS A LOT OF MATHEMATICS IN TWO BUCKETS [pp. 611-612] SIXTEENTH-CENTURY ASTRONOMERS HAD PROSTHAPHAERESIS [pp. 613-614] NEW Products, NEW Programs, NEW Publications NEW PRODUCTS Audiotape and Workbook Sets Review: untitled [pp. 615-615] Review: untitled [pp. 615-616] Review: untitled [pp. 616-616] Basic Skills Lab [pp. 616-617] Computing Notes [pp. 617-617] Scientific American [pp. 617-618] Hewlett Packard [pp. 618-618] Filmstrips Review: untitled [pp. 618-619] Review: untitled [pp. 619-619] Free Metric Material [pp. 619-620] Games Review: untitled [pp. 620-620] Review: untitled [pp. 620-620] Individualized Instruction [pp. 620-621] Metric Kit [pp. 621-621] Viewer [pp. 621-622] NEW PROGRAMS [pp. 622-623] NEW PUBLICATIONS Review: untitled [pp. 623-623] Review: untitled [pp. 623-624] Review: untitled [pp. 624-624] Review: untitled [pp. 624-624] Review: untitled [pp. 624-624] Review: untitled [pp. 624-625] Review: untitled [pp. 625-625] Review: untitled [pp. 625-625] Review: untitled [pp. 625-625] Review: untitled [pp. 625-626] Review: untitled [pp. 626-626] Review: untitled [pp. 626-626] Review: untitled [pp. 626-626] Review: untitled [pp. 626-627] Review: untitled [pp. 627-627] Review: untitled [pp. 627-627] Review: untitled [pp. 627-627] Review: untitled [pp. 627-628] Review: untitled [pp. 628-628] Review: untitled [pp. 628-628] Review: untitled [pp. 628-629] Review: untitled [pp. 629-629] Review: untitled [pp. 629-630] Review: untitled [pp. 630-630] Review: untitled [pp. 630-630] Review: untitled [pp. 630-630] Review: untitled [pp. 630-631] Review: untitled [pp. 631-631] Review: untitled [pp. 631-631] Back Matter