One of the most popular activities from the Teacher to Teacher Press book Number Sense is Pyramid Math. This creative practice activity facilitates discovery of number patterns and develops number sense. The activity works great with both positive and negative numbers and decimals and fractions. Because it can be designed to be self-checking, it is easy for the teacher and engaging for the students. Watch Bill as he gives an intro to this wonderful activity. It can be played in HD (720p) for full-screen use in classrooms with projectors.
Give this a try in your classroom and watch your students’ number sense grow as they are actively engaged in this activity.
Although some students are skeptical about the relevance of mathematics to everyday life, examples abound, and nowhere is it more evident than in the demanding world of global industry. When you’re considering a Master’s degree in Business Administration, strong skills in math will not only prepare you for the program itself, but will give you the competitive edge you’ll need to survive in uncertain markets here and abroad.
In order to apply to any business school, you’ll have to take the GMAT. The Graduate Management Admissions Test is a standardized exam used by business schools to determine the qualifications of applicants for post-graduate study in business and management. While you may read that the GMAT measures “basic” verbal, mathematical, and analytical writing skills, you should be aware that the types of math covered are, at the minimum, algebra, averages, geometry, percentages, permutation, combination and probability, profit and loss, and quadratic equations. Your score on the GMAT will determine not only what kind of business school you’ll be accepted into, but whether or not you’ll get in at all.
MBA - Letters and Business Man
Let’s assume, however, that your test scores were sufficiently high to ensure your acceptance to the school of your choice. Are your math skills strong enough that you feel confident entering (and staying in!) your MBA program? Unfortunately, undergraduates with a comprehensive background in math are still in the minority, so even some of the most prestigious MBA programs have found it necessary to offer refresher courses to their incoming students. But when you have as your goal a career in business, why start your MBA program already behind? And how can you fully appreciate the courses you’ll take if you’re struggling to keep up with the mathematical concepts? Let’s take a look at the mathematics requirements set by two different schools.
Undergraduate students at Harvard University who intend to pursue an MBA are required to complete math courses in statistics, probability, calculus, linear algebra and mathematical methods in science. The Wharton School of Business requires advanced statistics and economics. Calculus is necessary for all subject matter within business administration and management. Business analysis and marketing projections require linear and matrix algebra. Market research, any kind of financial analysis, and production and operations rely heavily on statistics. Even chaos theory is used to map market trends and for forecasting.
For any student considering an MBA degree, a solid grounding in math is not just beneficial, it is a necessity, and not just for the purposes of getting the degree. It should be obvious from this discussion that as the world of business has become increasingly sophisticated, the men and women who will succeed in it must be smart, savvy, and well-versed in the tools and techniques pertinent to their chosen field.
Once you see math as a tool to enhance your decision-making in matters of business, you’ll embrace the study of it. Starting early in your college career to build the math skills you’ll need later in business will help you become more confident, more effective as a businessperson, and more highly sought after by the companies that will challenge and fulfill you.
Here’s a video that introduces the 4×4 KenKen, including tips and strategies. It can be played in HD (720p) for use in classrooms with projectors.
KenKen is a logic and mathematical puzzle which is similar to Sudoku. As a math teacher, I use KenKen to teach and reinforce logical, deductive reasoning and to help with number concepts such as prime factorization.
The easiest way to introduce KenKen puzzles to students are through 4×4 grids. Here I show the 4×4 puzzle in this video so students can see the structure of KenKen and gain some familiarity with strategy. The goal is to fill the grid in with the digits 1 through 4 such that:
* Each row contains exactly one of each digit
* Each column contains exactly one of each digit
* The numbers in each heavily outlined set of squares, called cages, must combine (in any order) to produce the target number in the top corner using the mathematical operation indicated.
Here is a four minute video that introduces the 3×3 KenKen. It can be played in HD (720p) for use in classrooms with projectors.
KenKen is a logic and mathematical puzzle which is similar to Sudoku. As a math teacher, I use KenKen to teach and reinforce logical, deductive reasoning and to help with number concepts such as prime factorization.
The most common puzzles are 4×4 and 6×6 grids. I show the 3×3 puzzle in this video simply as an intro to the structure of KenKen. The goal is to fill the grid in with the digits 1 through 3 such that:
Each row contains exactly one of each digit
Each column contains exactly one of each digit
The numbers in each heavily outlined set of squares, called cages, must combine (in any order) to produce the target number in the top corner using the mathematical operation indicated.
The following is a Guest Post from Alexis Montgomery, who is a content writer for Online Degree, where you can browse through various online degree programs to find a college that suits your needs.
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Some kids are born to do math. They see the numbers on a page or a blackboard and it’s like you’re suddenly [...]
More kudos for GeoGebra; I continue to share this wonderful open-source software program with others and watch them experience the joy as they see mathematics come alive with power and creativity. My students experience this on a regular basis.
From the Tech Awards website: http://techawards.org/
“The Tech Awards program inspires global engagement in applying technology to humanity’s [...]
The following is a Guest Post from education writer Karen Schweitzer. Karen is the About.com Guide to Business School. She also writes about online colleges for OnlineColleges.net.
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Are you looking for new ways to present advanced mathematical concepts to your high school students? The Internet offers many free online resources for lessons, games, activities, and [...]
The title of this post is from a conference session at the California Math Council conference at Asilomar in December, 2009. You may download the handout through the following link:
Games and Puzzles that Reach the Kids and Teach the Standards
Here’s the handout with instructions for some activities:
Games and Puzzles that Reach the Kids and Teach [...]
I will be presenting a session at the California Math Council’s conference in southern California on 7 November, 2009 with the title of this blog article. I’ve included a link below to the conference presentation.
This session will cover several pedagogical topics that have made my students successful learners, including Conceptual Layering, as well as snippets [...]
George Polya was a master of problem solving, and his effect on other teachers has been extraordinary. His most popular book, How to Solve It, has sold over a million copies. As is the case with many great books, Polya had been turned down by three publishers before finding one to publish the English version [...]
