Mathematics and engineering in real life through mathematical competitions

We bring out an experience of organizing mathematical competitions that can be used as a medium to motivate the student and teacher minds in new directions of thinking. This can contribute to fostering research, innovation and provide a hands-on experience of mathematical concepts with the real world. Mathematical competitions can be used to build curiosity and give an understanding of mathematical applications in real life. Participation in the competition has been classified under four broad categories. Student can showcase their findings in various forms of expression like model, poster, soft presentation, animation, live performance, art and poetry. The basic focus of the competition is on using open source computation tools and modern technology, to emphasize the relationship of mathematical concepts with engineering applications in real life.     

The effect of music participation on mathematical achievement and overall academic achievement of high school students

A study was conducted on high school students, comparing those with some music credits to those with none. No statistically significant difference was found in their mean math grade point averages (GPA) or their mean cumulative GPAs. Students were then separated into two groups based on the number of music credits. Students who had earned at least two music credits per grade level were placed into Group A. This category included ninth graders with two or more music credits, tenth graders with four or more music credits, eleventh graders with six or more music credits, and twelfth graders with eight or more music credits. The remaining students were placed into Group B. Group A students performed better than group B students. However, the differences were not statistically significant. Scatter plots indicated a slight upward trend in GPAs as the number of music credits increased. Lower GPAs were nonexistent as the music credits increased.     

A Comparison Between Mathematics Textbook Content and a Statewide Mathematics Proficiency Test

Seven mathematics textbook series used for Grades 1 through 8 were examined. Textbook pages were counted as arithmetic, measurement, geometry, data analysis, or algebra. Percentages of mathematics textbook content were compared with percentages of mathematics content on the Ohio Ninth Grade Proficiency Test. Areas of greatest mismatch were arithmetic, measurement, and algebra. The overall percentage of arithmetic in the textbook series was about twice that on the test; the percentage of measurement was less than half that on the test; and the percentage of algebra was a third or less than that on the test. Results are also presented by grade level, and implications for teaching are discussed.     

George B. Dantzig: a legendary life in mathematical programming

Mathematical programming owes much to George B. Dantzig who passed away on May 13, 2005 at the age of 90. This article is a tribute to this legendary pioneer and a very brief review of his extensive and enduring contributions to our field.     

Dissection of a mathematical model

Interdisciplinary models of broad systems with environmental, economic and sociopolitical interacting components are progressively developed to accept the challenge of dramatic global changes affecting the planet Earth and its ever increasing population. This paper, based on the author's experience in the interdisciplinary—physical, chemical, biological, economic and sociopolitical—modelling of the marine system, and using specific references to such models to provide concrete illustrations of the basic concepts, is an attempt to bring out the general substructural features of mathematical models.     

数学机械化与数学道理化

以中国传统文化为底蕴、机械化和道理化为特色的中国传统数学,曾经取得光辉的成就.将这些思想用于计算机科学、孤子理论和量子场论,不仅可以系统地产生已有结果,还可以开辟新的研究方向,取得重大突破.     

On a socioeconomic mathematical model and its calibration

This paper is concerned with an operational issue arising in the use of spatial interaction models for solving actual planning problems. In particular it introduces an axiom about the concept of distance detterence and hence a calibration procedure. Such procedure is then used to calibrate two models actually being used to plan the development of a large Italian town and the results obtained on the adherence of the model to the problem being modelled improve by about 50% those given by a currently used calibration procedure.