It's Not Too LateReview by: Beverly K. KimesThe Mathematics Teacher, Vol. 79, No. 1 (JANUARY 1986), pp. 75-76Published by: National Council of Teachers of MathematicsStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27964785 .

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tion on harmonic motion has been

added, the coverage on matrices has been expanded, and new sec tions on partial fraction decompo sitions, rotation of axes, and se

quences have been added. Math ematical models and applications are stressed, and certain problems are identified to be solved with the aid of a hand-held calculator.? Richard C. Weimer, Frostburg State

College, Frostburg, MD 21532.

Schools of the Future: How Ameri can Business and Education Can Cooperate to Save Our Schools (L, P), Marvin J. Cetron (spon sored by American Association of School Administrators). 1985. 171 pp.. $14.75 cloth. ISBN 0 07-010350-X. McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1221 Ave. of the Americas, New York. NY 10020. Available for purchase from AASA Pub lications, American Association of

School Administrators, 1801 N. Moore St., Arlington, VA 22209.

The author attempts to predict the effects of the current reform move ment in education, as well as of po litical and sociological changes, on schools in the future. The main thesis is that a close cooperation

must exist between schools and business if education is to prosper. Specifically, Cetron sees year round schools serving learners of all ages, job training for all stu

dents, higher salaries and more

prestige for teachers, and more per sonalized education for all stu dents. He predicts that advances in

computer-based delivery and evalu ation systems will radically alter

the educational environment. I cer

tainly did not agree with all his

predictions, but I did find the book

thought provoking. An added feature of the book is

a summary of recent reports on ed ucational reform.?John Leamy,

Modesto Junior College, Modesto, CA 95350.

Technical Algebra with Applications (Ts, Tt). C. E. Goodson and S. L.

Miertschin. 1985, xiii + 472 + A-15 + B-6 + C-11 + D-15 + E-11 + F-37 + I-5 pp., $26.95 cloth. ISBN 0-471-08241 -4. John Wiley & Sons, 605 Third Ave., New York, NY 10158.

Although this text's approach to

algebra is too rule-oriented, it pro vides a wonderfully broad range of technical applications. In fact, it contains so many applications and so many algebraic techniques, ex

amples, and exercises that the in structor could have a choice

among the chapters and not ex haust the book's content in a year. The book is well organized around

objectives and self-tests. Useful ap pendices are also included on cal culator keystrokes, geometry, and BASIC. The step-by-step review of verbal problems gives the (false) impression that each problem must be solved by the application of a

formula, although this is (happily) not true for many of the exercises. This text could be a useful source of algebraic applications for the in structor who chooses a different text.?Michele Satty Gage, New York City Technical College, Brooklyn, NY 11201-2983.

Estimation Skill Builders, Linda Perry. 1985. copy masters. 12 pp., #01 -5520, $10.95; spirit masters. 24 pp., #03-5520. $10.95. J.

Weston Walch, Publisher, P.O. Box 658, Portland, ME 04104 6094.

Estimation is a survival skill, and this set of copy masters deals with estimation as such. The set can be used at the junior high school level or in the general mathematics area in high school.

The set begins with warm-up,

simple estimations and continues with addition, money, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions and mixed numbers, percentages, circumferences, comparison of

values, finding of fallacies, dis

tances, probability, missing facts, and range.

Each copy is a sheet that con

tains from one to ten word prob lems. The level of reading is usu

ally appropriate for the suggested

level of student but at times may need some extended instruction by the teacher. The problems are well written and of a high interest level. This material should be used as

supplemental exercises or as fillers. Some of the longer problems lend themselves to discussions and fur ther studies in estimation and

problem solving. This set of copy masters comes

with a well-written introduction on

estimation and an answer

section.?Mary G. Elmore, School District of Greenville County, Greenville, SC 29602.

It's Not Too Late. 30-min. film, $400 ($300 in video format?VHS). Previews available at no charge.

Walter J. Klein Co., Box 2087, 6311 Carmel Rd., Charlotte, NC 28211.

The theme of this film is quite ap propriate for today's students.

Many of them are constantly ques tioning the advantages of taking advanced mathematics and science courses, particularly at the high school level. Although parents and teachers can list volumes of rea sons for taking these courses,

many students either don't believe them or decide they'd rather take the easy way out. This film makes students reconsider such decisions.

"It's Not Too Late" has several excellent characteristics. First, it

emphasizes to the students the im

portance of taking all the science and mathematics courses they can

during their years in school better to prepare themselves for the future.

Secondly, it focuses on junior high school students who com municate their dreams and aspir ations about their futures. Stu dents seem to relate much better to their peers than to adults when the

topic of concern is academics or

future plans. Third, the film offers a very

practical view of science. Many things we take for granted would not be here today if it weren't for modern technology. Science is also offered as a possible solution to world problems, as in the dis cussion of hydroponics, which was

offered as one possible solution to

feeding the many people of the world.

Finally, and probably most im

portantly, the film encourages stu dents not only to think about to morrow but also to prepare them

January 1986- 75

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selves for tomorrow. It continually stresses the importance of math ematics and science in many oc

cupations in tomorrow's techno

logical world. Students who viewed the film

with me felt it had two major draw backs. They said it failed to show

specific applications of mathemat ics and to show the relationship be

tween the two disciplines. In their

opinion, the film stressed the im

portance of science more than mathematics. Overall they agreed that the film was well produced. The script and music were very ap pealing, and the film kept their at tention. Many also said it en

couraged them to continue to take their mathematics and science

courses very seriously. Even though I believe that this

excellent, motivational film should be viewed by all students in grades 7-10, older students could also ap preciate the message that it's never too late to begin preparing oneself for the future.?Beverly K. Kimes, Parker High School, Birmingham, AL 35204.

j ..

Edited by Pam Trim State Technical Institute at

Memphis Memphis, TN 38134

Using Computers in Teaching Secondary School Mathematics Asbury Park (N.J.) School Dis trict's "Utilizing Computers in the

Teaching of Secondary Mathemat ics" is a project whose goal is to

improve mathematics skills

through the use of microcomputer based instructional materials and

techniques. The project has been identified as an exemplary educa tional program by the United States Department of Education's National Diffusion Network

(NDN). The project package consists of

two teachers' manuals and six disks containing approximately eighty computer programs that en

compass six areas of secondary level mathematics?first- and

second-year algebra, geometry, cal culus, precalculus, and applied

mathematics. Whereas some pro grams are tutorial in nature, others are drill and practice or sim ulations using graphics. Both

Apple and TRS-80 versions are available.

The programs can easily be in

tegrated into any traditional math ematics curriculum. It is not neces

sary for a school to hire additional staff to implement the program. Al

though the ideal setting for the

programs is a computer laboratory, success can also be achieved under other conditions. Suggestions for

integrating the project into a spe cific school's setting are presented during a three-hour training ses sion given at the time of adoption of the project. Qualified trainers travel to the site of adoption to work with the teachers and super

visors who will be involved with the programs.

The cost of the package (teach ers' manuals and disks) is minimal, and the price is reduced if four or more high schools in one district

purchase the package. All disks and manuals may be duplicated for use within the adopting district.

Statistical evaluation of the

project has shown that it is suc cessful in increasing students' achievement. Adoption of the proj ect has been widespread with over 500 schools in thirty states now

using it. Inquiries have also been received from outside the United States.

The following material is avail able free on request: a brochure

outlining the microcomputer pro gram, selections from the teachers'

manuals, a demonstration disk

(please send one blank disk) with

sample programs from each of the six mathematics areas, and infor

mation on cost. Demonstrations of the mathematics project are avail able either at Asbury Park or at a

prospective adoption site. To obtain the free materials or

further information, please contact

Judy F. Smith, Project Director, Asbury Park School District, 1506 Park Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ 07713. m

THE LORE OF PRIME NUMBERS by George P. Loweke

Now available from the Wayne Institute for Scientific Education

This work resolves the legendary mystery of irregular distribution of prime numbers and develops the equations for their occurrence. It presents a fascinating study and summa rizes the historical contributions in number theory. 259 pp. Cloth, "...an important addition to every secondary mathematics teacher's library."?MATHEMATICS TEACHER

Post paid $17.95. Wayne Institute for Scientific Education P.O. Box 1525, Traverse City, Ml 49685

76 Mathematics Teacher

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