Site History and Content

Appetizers and Lessons for Mathematics and Reason (www.whyslopes.com) Entrance Level \|\|Définition d'une variable \|\| Algèbre \|\| Arithmetique \|\| Logique \|\|La raison basée sur les règles et modelés\|\|
Online Volumes 1, Elements of Reason. 1A. Pattern Based Reason 1B. Math Curriculum Notes 2. Three Skills for Algebra 3. Why Slopes & More Math (Optional Book Orders)	More Site Areas 1. Help Your Child or Teen Learn 2. Solving Linear Equations 3. Fractions Ratios Rates Proportions & Units 4. Euclidean Geometry 5. Analytic Geometry/Functions 6. Number Theory. 7. More Calculus	More Site Areas 8. Complex Numbers 9. Qc Maths Education 10. Secondary IV(?) maths 11. Real Analysis 12. LaTeX2HotEqn: 13. Electric Circuits Etc 14. Français 15. Algebra, Odds & Ends, Etc	More Site Areas 16. Math Education Essays 17. Telling & Working with Time 18. Maps, Plans & Drawings 19. Quantitative Skills for home and work, etc, etc 20. Statistics . ** Means Under-construction. Test the Twiddla Whiteboard
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Site reviews below, a subset of more, give a third party views of site development.

Math Forum June 1995 Hot Spot: Three Skills For Algebra (a first image of mathematics after arithmetic - why letters or symbols are favored in algebra in place of numbers); Two logic puzzles to show the difference between a one-way and a two-way rule; Painless Theorem Proving; Longer Chains of Reason: What is Mathematical Induction?; Complex numbers Etc. - A geometrical story based on the addition and multiplication of arrows in the plane; Chains of Reason - math-free examples of rule-based reasoning; How Logic or Rule-Based Reason Appears in Math; ...

Cornell Theory Center, Fall1995. Several puzzles and short discussions to help students understand algebra and proofs. If you don't like the first one you look at, try another; they're all quite different.

The Cornell Theory Center and the Math Forum provided the first two links to this site.

Magellan, the McKinley Internet Directory, 1996: Mathphobics, this site may ease your fears of the subject, perhaps even help you enjoy it. The tone of the little lessons and "appetizers" on math and logic is unintimidating, sometimes funny and very clear. There are a number of different angles offered, and you do not need to follow any linear lesson plan. Just pick and peck. The site also offers some reflections on teaching, so that teachers can not only use the site as part of their lesson, but also learn from it

Math Forum News Letter, November 25, 1996 .... mathematics appetizers range over arithmetic review problems, notions of what variables are, skills leading to algebra, painless theorem proving, complex numbers with some trig, the importance of slope (some calculus), a decimal perspective of error control and continuity (more calculus), and renaming the greater than sign (back to algebra). // Advice on how to read, how to learn, why go to school, etc. ... included. The tone is sometimes funny, and the writing is dense, rich, and intriguing. There are reflections on teaching, so these materials can be used in the classroom and as a place for teachers to learn. // ... explanations of mathematical concepts using words and stories are particularly strong. ...

Education Planet Newsletter, top math sites, 2001: ... The commentary and online books available at this site provide a very rich guide to mathematical reasoning and high school math to calculus. The emphasis here is on the thinking part of math rather than the actual manipulations themselves. There is also information here for parents as well as teachers. Now you can help your students gain insight into mathematics rather than just helping them memorize formulas.

Math Forum News Letter: Aug, 2001. ... new sections on Complex Numbers and the Distributive Law for Complex Numbers offer a short way to reach and explain:

trigonometry
the Pythagorean theorem
trig formulas for dot- and cross-products
the cosine law
a converse to the Pythagorean Theorem

There are five different ways for learning and teaching complex numbers and trig in site pages.

The NSDL Scout Report for Mathematics, Engineering, & Technology -- Vol. 1, No. 8 (May 2002) Math resources for both students and teachers are given on this site, spanning the general topics of arithmetic, logic, algebra, calculus, complex numbers, and Euclidean geometry. Lessons and how-tos with clear descriptions of many important concepts provide a good foundation for high school and college level mathematics. There are sample problems that can help students prepare for exams, or teachers can make their own assignments based on the problems. Everything presented on the site is not only educational, but interesting as well. There is certainly plenty of material; however, [criticism] This does not take away from the quality of the information, though.

The NSDL Scout Report for Mathematics Engineering and Technology-- Vo. 4, No. 4 (Feb. 2005) [A new] section of the website, offers lesson ideas for teaching linear equations in high school or college. .... The approach uses stick diagrams to solve linear equations because they "provide a concrete or visual context for many of the rules or patterns for solving equations, a context that may develop equation solving skills and confidence." The idea is to build up student confidence in problem solving before presenting any formal algebraic statement of the rule and patterns for solving equations. Links to related [online] chapters ... are also provided.

The World-Wide Web Virtual Library Education by Country - Canada, Nov. 2005. Why Slopes: This online classroom offers appetizers and lessons for math from arithmetic to calculus or why slopes; for deductive reason (logic) and critical thinking; and for learning in general. Included here are opinions on the communication of skills and mathematics instruction. The logic appetizers are math free. Each appetizer is different. If one is not to your liking try another. Most are from three books on understanding and explaining math and reason.