Mathematica in the Classroom

Mathematica is a software package that can manipulate symbols as well as numbers. It has impressive graphing facilities and with its numerous powerful commands the user can tackle almost any mathematical problem. Mathematica can be used in various modes:

  1. As a supercalculator that handles numbers, symbols and graphs.
  2. To build customised 'active learning environments' for the pupil to investigate and explore particular topics using the vast range of resources that Mathematica provides.
  3. To write 'interactive worksheets'. The advantage in this type of worksheet as compared to the traditional worksheet is that it allows the user to check, explore and animate the ideas and methods being presented.
  4. It can be used to generate data print-outs for pattern exploration etc that otherwise would have been inaccessible.

The Assignment Sheets presented here could be adapted to work with other Computer Algebra Systems like Maple or Derive or possibly some of the new advanced calculators.

 

The Assignment Sheets

 

Factors and Primes 1
This introduction to Factors uses the command
Divisors[ ]
to check whether the student has correctly found all the factors of various numbers.

Factors and Primes 2
This is an introduction to Prime numbers. The command
Prime[ ]
is used to check whether the student has correctly claculated the first few Primes. Mistakes are analysed using the Divisor command.

Factors and Primes 3

This assignment explores the use of the Prime[ ] command to deduce the number of primes between given limits leading to observations on the distribution of the primes

Crossnumber 1

A crossnumber puzzle about powers of two which uses Mathematica's multiprecision calculating power. Nomal calculators would not be able to display enough digits to complete this puzzle.

Fractions & Decimals 1

An investigation into terminating and recurring decimals using, for example, N[1/7,30] This command gives 1/7 to 30 decimal places

Fractions & Decimals 2

Continuing the investigation into patterns that occur in the decimal digits of the decimal expansions of 1/prime.

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