computers and calculators || scientific analysis on the pocket calculator (p, l)by jon m. smith

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Scientific Analysis on the Pocket Calculator (P, L) by Jon M. Smith Review by: Alexandra Forsythe The Mathematics Teacher, Vol. 71, No. 5, Computers and Calculators (MAY 1978), pp. 474-475 Published by: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27961311 . Accessed: 13/09/2014 14:24 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 153.216.41.254 on Sat, 13 Sep 2014 14:24:29 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

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Scientific Analysis on the Pocket Calculator (P, L) by Jon M. SmithReview by: Alexandra ForsytheThe Mathematics Teacher, Vol. 71, No. 5, Computers and Calculators (MAY 1978), pp. 474-475Published by: National Council of Teachers of MathematicsStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27961311 .

Accessed: 13/09/2014 14:24

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 ofcontent in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new formsof scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected].

.

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extendaccess to The Mathematics Teacher.

http://www.jstor.org

This content downloaded from 153.216.41.254 on Sat, 13 Sep 2014 14:24:29 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

Pocket Calculator," a sequence of operations is given that always leads to the display of the month and day of your birthday followed by your age. Finally, there are several illustrations of practical applications for the calculator. The first is a lesson in comparative grocery shopping. The second concerns building bird

house, and dimensions are shown for the six rectangu lar sides. Then the student is asked how large a piece of plywood would be needed for a birdhouse twice as

large. The explanatory discussion says to double every dimension. Doubling the size of a human dwelling is

generally understood to mean doubling only the floor

space, not every dimension. Doubling every dimen

sion, of course, quadruples the floor space and yields eight times the volume. Overall, this book presents its

information, which is largely descriptive rather than

technical, in an interesting, straightforward manner

and wisely avoids any sensationalism.?Forsythe.

Financial Analysis & Business Decisions on the Pocket

Calculator (P, L), Jon M. Smith. 1976, xxii + 317

pp., $12.95. John Wiley & Sons, 605 Third Ave., New York, NY 10016.

This is a parallel volume to Smith's "Scientific Anal

ysis on the Pocket Calculator." The preface says that the purpose of the book is to help the reader make better business decisions through improved financial and business system analysis. A casebook method of

presentation is used, and all the methods and tech

niques are adapted to the pocket calculator. The book has three parts. The first contains a gen

eral introduction to pocket calculators and to business decisions and financial analysis. Then follow chapters on calculating interest, present and future values, pay ments and number of periods, consumer finance, and so on. The second part deals with business statistics and business systems analysis, and the third part dis cusses the programmable pocket calculator.

There are at least fifty casebook examples, practical business problems drawn from real life. The system analysis for each example includes (1) a computational procedure for any pocket calculator, (2) keystroke sequences for simple four-function calculators, (3) keystroke sequences for business calculators using re verse Polish notation, and (4) keystroke sequences for business calculators using algebraic calculator lan

guage.?Forsythe.

High .School Activities for the Calculator: Mono

graph?1977 (P), Ann Robinson, ed. 1977, 50 pp., $2 for ICTM (Iowa Council of Teachers of Mathe

matics) members; $2.50 for nonmembers. Ann Rob

inson, 2712 Cedar Heights Dr., Cedar Falls, IA 50613.

This short monograph contains fifty pages of prob lems that a teacher could use to introduce the calcu lator into the high school curriculum. The problems are taken from algebra, advanced algebra, general mathematics, geometry, probability, and trigonome

try. The concepts involved are not usually explained, since the book is supplemental only. The answers to

most problems are provided.?Brieske.

Minicalcul?tors in the Classroom ( ), Joseph R. Cara vella. 1977, 64 pp., $5.25 cloth; $2.50 paper. Na tional Education Association, 1201 16th St., N.W.,

Washington, DC 20036.

This short book is a good reference for teachers

considering the use of minicalcul?tors in their mathe matics classes. The author discusses .the implications for instruction and classroom management of hand held calculators in the classroom. He optimistically predicts the elimination of contrived problems in favor of more realistic ones; increased interest in problem solving; more inquisitive, creative, and independent students; and an improved attitude toward mathemat ics. More realistically, he expects an increased empha sis on estimation, decimals, radicals, negative num

bers, and graphing. The book also contains useful information on se

lecting and using minicalcul?tors, some interesting ac tivities for calculators, and a long list of references to the literature on the use of calculators in the class room.?Brieske.

Problem Solving with the Calculator (S), Russell F. Jacobs. 1977, 156 pp., $2.95; Teacher's Guide with Answer Key, $.50; Answer Key, $.50. Jacobs Pub

lishing Co., 4747 N. 16th St., Suite B-100, Phoenix, AZ 85016.

This book contains many excellent activities for a short course based on the calculator. It is well-written and easy to read. It even describes the sequence of the

displays that appear on th? calculator as a problem is solved.

Part one of the book is devoted to whole numbers.

Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers are used to solve many interesting applied problems. The importance of estimating an swers by rounding is stressed, and the function of

memory keys is illustrated. Part two of the book dis cusses the arithmetic of decimals and fractions, square roots, and the Pythagorean theorem. Part three in cludes sections on proportion and percent along with some interesting applications to discount and interest. Part four has sections on magic squares, number

tricks, and polygonal numbers and a nice section on

converting fractions to repeating decimals. The book shows a good balance between activities

such as continued fractions and Pythagorean triples, which have intrinsic interest, and interesting appli cations to business, sports, consumer affairs, and other areas. It deserves consideration as a supplementary text.?Brieske.

Scientific Analysis on the Pocket Calculator (P, L), Jon

474 Mathematics Teacher

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M. Smith. 1975, xii + 380 pp., $13.95. John Wiley &

Sons, 605 Third Ave., New York, NY 10016.

If you have a pocket calculator and want to get an

idea of how to use it to solve many types of numerical

problems, this book may have something for you. The

author has a very practical point of view and begins by

describing and characterizing the differences in design

among various pocket calculators. Keystroke se

quences for algebraic and reverse Polish notation are

shown, and the data flow is explained. The evaluation

of many scientific functions is discussed in detail along with questions of accuracy and error. The author's

style bears some resemblance to a handbook; a great deal of theoretical and practical information is sum

marized. Most chapters end with a list of references

for further reading. One-third of the book is devoted to a section enti

tled "Advanced Analysis on the Pocket Calculator."

Here one finds chapters on Fourier analysis, numerical

integration, linear systems simulation, and com

parable problems. An interesting feature of the book is

chapter 11, "The Programmable Pocket Calculator."

The author has certainly tried to provide practical self

help for the working engineer or scientist who owns a

pocket calculator and wants to get the utmost out of it.

How effective the book is for lay readers probably

depends on their mathematical background.?For

sythe.

Calculators/Computers The Magazine for

Beginners

Special "copy me" teaching units for classroom and home use, covering 4-function calculators to pro gramming in BASIC

Problems - with solutions and teacher's commentary Educational games and simulations

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