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Video lesson: Solving polynomial equations on the TI-Nspire

When you are solving a quadratic equation, you have a lot of options. You can factor, complete the square, or use the quadratic formula. But what about polynomials with a degree (highest exponent) that is higher than two? These can be difficult to factor with the types of factoring you learn in a high school algebra class. This video lesson explains how you can use the built in features features of a TI-Nspire to solve a polynomial equation.

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Great math problem tweeters

If you’re looking for some great math practice problems, Twitter can be one place to turn. It’s also convenient since you’re probably logging in to tweet on a regular basis anyway. Here are some “Tweeters” to consider if you’re looking for some extra practice or a challenge. Description: TheNational Council of Teachers of Mathematics tweets primarily high school level problems. Questions go out in the morning, answers at night. Example Problem: How many different rectangles can be drawn using the hour marks on a clock’s face as vertices?

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Video: Microsoft math add-in for Word and OneNote

Click here for our article on the Microsoft Mathematics Add-in for Word 2010 and OneNote.

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Calculator Spy Camera

Here’s a gadget that we didn’t see coming: a calculator that doubles as a spy camera. If you’d like to keep tabs on anyone from your babysitter to your colleagues, this device delivers. The calculator copies the design and functionality of a Casio DS-5500, so it is a usable calculator. It records at 640 x 480 resolution at 30 frames/second. Apparently, it can also take 1280 x 960 pictures, for those of you that plan to use it as a replacement for your digital SLR.

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Microsoft math add-in for Word and OneNote

Click here for my video of the Microsoft Mathematics Add-in for Word 2010 and OneNote. On Tuesday, Microsoft released the Mathematics Add-in for Word 2010 and OneNote users.  If you’ve never used equation editor or a previous release of the mathematics add-in, it gives significant mathematical capabilities to Word.  Teachers (myself included) love it for writing quizzes, tests, and worksheets.  Students will appreciate the ability to easily make their assignments and papers look more professional.

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Video lesson: Definite integrals on the TI-84

Teaching calculus students how to do integration goes way beyond the scope of a short article or video. The basics of taking a definite integral on the TI-84+, however, are pretty straightforward. This video lesson covers how to find a definite integral on a TI-84 plus both within the home screen and within a graph.

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Video lesson: Definite integrals on the TI-Nspire

Teaching calculus students how to do integration goes way beyond the scope of a short article or video. The basics of taking a definite integral on the TI-Nspire, however, are pretty straightforward. This video lesson covers how to find a definite integral on a TI-Nspire both within the home screen and within a graph.

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Million Dollar question: Does P = NP?

In an age where we are surrounded by computers that solve problems of almost unimaginable complexity in a matter of seconds, students of math may be surprised to learn that there is an entire category of problems generally believed to be “unsolvable” by computers.  The class of P problems can be solved in “polynomial time,” while NP problems are solved in “nondeterministic polynomial time.” At the risk of oversimplifying, P problems can be solved by a computer fairly quickly.

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Video: Top 6 calculator apps for the iPhone

Click here to read our full article on the Top 6 calculator apps for the iPhone.

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Top 6 calculator apps for the iPhone

Click here to watch my video review of the top 6 calculator apps for the iPhone. My recent article on the top 6 calculator apps for Android was a big hit, and since then I’ve been getting search inquiries about iOS. You asked for it, so here it is. I’ve searched out Apple’s app store for my favorite 6 calculator apps for the iPhone and iPod touch. Since there was a wide disparity in cost of apps, I set the ground rule that we were searching for apps that cost less than $5.

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