Mathematics

• Appropriate as a supplement to any text in the Precalculus Curriculum. College Algebra, Algebra and Trigonometry, Trigonometry or Precalculus. This three year NSF funded project integrates an applied approach to algebra/trigonometry/precalculus mathematics based on real engineering and design problems with mathematics curriculum reform principles and practice.
• The Investigations reflect the AMATC and NCTM Standards in both curriculum content and pedagogy. Each lab is based on a real-world application from another discipline, and involves interactive and collaborative learning. Students will use technology (primarily graphing calculators), employing multiple approaches (analytical, graphical, numerical, verbal) to model solutions to these problems, increasing their reasoning and problem-solving skills.
• Many mathematics instructors are eager to integrate realistic applications in their teaching, but lack the time and resources to develop the necessary connections on their own. These Investigations provide such applications by modeling workplace experiences of professionals in engineering, design and management occupations.

• Mathematics is placed in an authentic applications context. Students are motivated to learn the mathematics. See: Geodesic Domes. Pg. 4-5.

• Students perform hands on experiments. Students learn data analysis methods and modeling skills. See: Getting a Charge out of Math. Pg. 3-8.

• Probing, open-ended questions are included in all labs. Students develop critical thinking skills. See: Buckling of Slender Columns. Pg. 3.

• Writing about mathematical concepts is a regular feature. Students must reflect on what they've learned and clearly express their mathematical understanding. See: Strength of Materials. Pg. 7.

• Use of computational technology is encouraged throughout. Students learn to make efficient choices of solution methods. See: Life Cycle Cost Analysis. Pg.___

• Connections among different fields of study are revealed through mathematics. Students appreciate mathematics as a unifying language. See: Construction Project Cost and Machine Tooling. Pg.___

• Non-traditional topics such as statistics and discrete mathematics (logic, networks) are included. Teachers can extend the boundaries of the precalculus course. See: Logic Gates. Pg.___

• Tasks and Goals are clearly identifies throughout each lab. Pg.___

• Everyday language is used in attempt to make the directions user-friendly for the student. Pg.___

• Instructors' notes for each lab containing tips on equipment usage and teaching suggestions are included in the Instructor's Resource Manual. Pg.___

 1. Aircraft Navigation I.


 2. Aircraft Navigation II.


 3. Air Pollution.


 4. Buckling of Slender Columns.


 5. Building Site Excavation.


 6. Computing Interest I.


 7. Computing Interest II.


 8. Concrete Strength Testing.


 9. Construction Project Cost and Machine Tooling.


10. Design of Spiral and Circular Stairs.


11. Design of a Straight Staircase.


12. Electronic Circuit Design.


13. Engineering Measurement.


14. Geodesic Domes.


15. Geometry of Design.


16. Getting a Charge out of Math.


17. Lease Space Analysis.


18. Life Cycle Cost Analysis.


19. Logic Gates.


20. Medication Dosing.


21. Milling Machine.


22. Noise Pollution.


23. Quality Assurance in Machining.


24. Robotics.


25. Shear and Bending Moment I.


26. Shear and Bending Moment II.


27. Soil Pressure.


28. Strength of Materials.


29. Temperature Sensing Diode.


30. Temperature and Volume.


31. Topics in Staircase Design.

Precalculus Mathematics  (Mathematics)
Algebra and Trigonometry  (Mathematics)
Technical Mathematics  (Mathematics)
Technical Mathematics with Calculus  (Mathematics)

The laboratory investigations in this manual are an outgrowth of a campus-wide interdisciplinary collaboration at Wentworth Institute of Technology. With support from the National Science Foundation, mathematics faculty worked closely with colleagues in engineering, architecture, design, and management to identify field-specific problems that reveal rich connections to fundamental mathematics concepts in algebra, trigonometry, and precalculus.

The authors are full-time classroom mathematics instructors with many years of both college and high school teaching experience. In the spirit of the AMATYC and NCTM standards, they have incorporated a comprehensive "Rule of Four" pedagogy employing multiple representations in modeling real-world problems, interactive and collaborative learning, and regular use of technology. Many of the investigations require data collection in laboratory settings, and almost all involve some sort of hands-on activity. This manual is intended to provide students direct experience with mathematics as revealed in real applications, by modeling workplace experiences of professionals in business and industry. Students who have used these laboratory investigations have commented in course evaluations that they "make you think about the math topic in a whole new way," "keep you thinking of the math applications outside of class," and "helped give an understanding of how the math we are working on ties into everyday life." Other comments included "The labs we did were very realistic," and "I now try to look at a problem in more than one aspect."

Encouraged by these student responses, we believe Precalculus Investigations: A Laboratory Manual, will heighten students' interest in Precalculus. This manual exposes the student to lab projects that incorporate issues of daily life and today's careers such as, medical technology, weather, architecture, life cycles, natural resources, and noise pollution. These lab projects give students the ability to associate and extend the usefulness of mathematics in our ever-changing world.

Addison-Wesley's Algebra Review
Addison-Wesley
©2004 | Prentice Hall | Paper | Out of Stock
ISBN-10: 0321247086 | ISBN-13: 9780321247087

Addison-Wesley's Basic Math Review
Addison-Wesley
©2004 | Prentice Hall | Paper | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321247078 | ISBN-13: 9780321247070

Algebra Review Study Card, 2/E
D'Ippolito & Generazzo
©2006 | Prentice Hall | Study Card; 6 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321394739 | ISBN-13: 9780321394736
Buy from myPearsonStore

Allied Health Study Card, 2/E
Forshier
©2006 | Prentice Hall | Study Card | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321394747 | ISBN-13: 9780321394743
Buy from myPearsonStore

Basic Math Review Card, 2/E
Addison-Wesley
©2006 | Prentice Hall | Study Card; 6 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321394763 | ISBN-13: 9780321394767
Buy from myPearsonStore

Concept Videos: Algebra
Addison-Wesley
©2008 | Prentice Hall | Multiple Media Package | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321517199 | ISBN-13: 9780321517197

Concept Videos: Basic Math & Prealgebra
Addison-Wesley
©2008 | Prentice Hall | Multiple Media Package | Instock
ISBN-10: 032151758X | ISBN-13: 9780321517586

Discovering Algebra: Examples with Keystrokes on the TI-83/TI-82 and TI-85/TI-86, A Laboratory Approach
Pirich & Bigliani
©1997 | Prentice Hall | Paper; 195 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0136492037 | ISBN-13: 9780136492030
Buy from myPearsonStore

Finite Mathematics Study Card
Addison-Wesley
©2006 | Prentice Hall | Study Card | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321374398 | ISBN-13: 9780321374394
Buy from myPearsonStore

Flash Review Series: Algebra
Becker
©2004 | Prentice Hall | Paper | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321143094 | ISBN-13: 9780321143099
Buy from myPearsonStore

Graphing Calculator Reference Card, 3/E
Ripley
©2006 | Prentice Hall | Study Card; 6 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321394755 | ISBN-13: 9780321394750
Buy from myPearsonStore

Graphing Calculator Tutorial CD
Addison-Wesley
©2006 | Prentice Hall | CD-ROM Only | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321357744 | ISBN-13: 9780321357748
Buy from myPearsonStore

Interwrite Personal Response System
EduCue, Addison-Wesley & Benjamin Cummings
©2004 | Prentice Hall | Electronic Supplement | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321267354 | ISBN-13: 9780321267351

Math for Allied Health Study/Reference Card
Forshier
©2006 | Prentice Hall | Study Card; 0 pp | Out of Stock
ISBN-10: 0321336542 | ISBN-13: 9780321336545

Mathematics Spanish Glossary, 2/E
Lara & Peeples
©2000 | Prentice Hall | Paper; 48 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0201728966 | ISBN-13: 9780201728965
Buy from myPearsonStore

Overcoming Math Anxiety, 2/E
Davidson & Levitov
©2000 | Prentice Hall | Paper | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321069188 | ISBN-13: 9780321069184
Buy from myPearsonStore

Pearson TI Rebate Coupon $15, 2/E
Pearson
©2009 | Prentice Hall | Paper | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321566041 | ISBN-13: 9780321566041

Prealgebra Review Workbook
Wheel
©2006 | Prentice Hall | Paper; 300 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321473329 | ISBN-13: 9780321473325
Buy from myPearsonStore

Review of Algebra, A
Howard
©2002 | Prentice Hall | Paper; 224 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0201773473 | ISBN-13: 9780201773477
Buy from myPearsonStore

Saleable Technology Bundle, 2/E
Pearson
©2009 | Prentice Hall | Multiple Media Package | Estimated Availability : 09/01/2008
ISBN-10: 0321561880 | ISBN-13: 9780321561886

Spanish Basic Math Study Card
Leonarte
©2007 | Prentice Hall | Study Card | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321438582 | ISBN-13: 9780321438584
Buy from myPearsonStore

Stand-alone Access Code Tutor Center
Addison-Wesley
©2008 | Prentice Hall | Access Code Card | Instock
ISBN-10: 0201721708 | ISBN-13: 9780201721706
URL:  http://www.aw-bc.com/tutorcenter
Buy from myPearsonStore

Pearson Higher Education offers special pricing when you choose to package your text with other student resources. If you're interested in creating a cost-saving package for your students contact your Pearson Higher Education representative.