Math Confidence Newsletter
Volume 17
October 2010
In This Issue
Math Confidence:You Tube
Waiting for Superman
Recommended Reading
Algebra in the 21st Century
Brain Teaser
Math Confidence Video on You Tube 
 
Join Our Mailing List
With the new school year underway, education is at the movies, on TV and at the newsstand.  This month's issue focuses on a new mainstream book on Algebra and the new education movie "Waiting for Superman".  School can also be found in Time Magazine: What Makes A School Great? and A & E's new series with Tony Danza Teach.
"Waiting for Superman" Movie
This documentary was released in New York and Los Angeles in late September and will roll out nationwide in October.   Some feel that it is negative on the unions and/or that the featured charter schools are the exception rather than the norm, but this movie will spark discussion and debate and bring the issues to the forefront of the general public. 
Recommended Reading
Hot X 
This is Danica's McKellar third book aimed at middle school girls and anyone else who could benefit from a boost in Math and attitude.  Her first book in 2008 was Math Doesn't Suck subtitled "how to survive middle school Math". Her second book in 2009 Kiss My Math's subtitle is "showing prealgebra who's boss".  All of her books are accessible while containing solid Mathematics topics and examples.
The author includes common Algebra such as linear equations (lines), exponents and word problems.  The book has inspirational testimonials from women who now use Math in their careers but did not consider Math their favorite school subject. 
In the NPR interview, Danica discusses how tackling challenges in Math can build confidence and skills in life.  She believes that "Math is hard" is really ok -- back in the '90's there was an uproar when a Barbie doll stated "Math class is tough" -- earlier this year, Mattel introduced
Computer Engineer Barbie to encourage girls to consider technical careers.
Algebra in the 21st Century
Math education in the 21st century is different from the 1900's.  2 + 2 is still 4 but technology has changed the way Math is learned, taught and tested.  Students are expected to be analytical rather than computational as tests have been designed with the (graphing) calculator in mind. 
In the 20th century, graphing was done on graph paper Print Free Graph Paper.  For example, for y = 2x + 5 ("double x and add 5"), we would pick x values such as 0, 1, 2 and find the corresponding y values of 5, 7, and 9 .  We could then plot these three points (0,5), (1,7) and (2,9) and connect them to form a line. 
Nowadays, using the Texas Instruments TI-83/4 graphing calculator, y = 2x + 5 can be seen in a graph and on the xy table.
 
According to TI, "a graphing calculator is a learning tool designed to help students visualize and better understand concepts in mathematics and science.  As they gain a deeper understanding of the material, students acquire the critical thinking and problem-solving skills they need to attain greater academic success." 
 
Brain Teaser 
Numbers thru Funnel

What is the greatest possible product of two positive whole numbers whose sum is 100?

 
Answer to September's Brain Teaser: 301
Thanks for reading!  How can we make this newsletter better?  Please send comments and suggestions to Robin mathconfidence@aol.com
 
Sincerely,
 
Robin "the Math Lady" Schwartz