Make It Real: Using RealLife Applications to Enhance the Learning of Mathematics

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Make It Real Using Real-Life Applications to
Enhance the Learning of Mathematics

• Frank C. Wilson
• Chandler-Gilbert Community College
• frank.wilson_at_cgcmail.maricopa.edu

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What do you do when a student asks, When am I
ever going to use this?
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Make It Real!
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What do you do when a student says, Im just
not a math person?
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Make It Real!
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What do you do to help struggling students
succeed?
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Make It Real!
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Real-Life Impact
Brian Sexton Public Information Officer Williams
Gateway Airport Former CGCC Student
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Real-Life Impact
. . . While he may not specifically use
regression analysis in his normal role as our
Public Information Officer, the fact that he came
to understand the process increases his
understanding of our Finance and Planning
departments. . . . Thanks again for helping
Brian understand the value of learning skills
like this and helping him become a better
employee for us. Casey Denny, Deputy
Director Williams Gateway Airport Authority
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Why do we require math?

• To prepare the student to succeed in other
  disciplines
• To develop the students problem solving skills
• To increase the students ability to analyze and
  interpret real world information

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Why use real data?

• To help students
• interpret the quantitative information they
  encounter daily
• learn something more than math

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Selecting Data to Use

• Is it interesting?
• Is it relevant to the student?
• Can the data be better understood by using
  mathematics?

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Where to Find Data

• Newspapers
• Magazines
• Product packaging
• Students
• World Wide Web
• Government reports
• Company financial reports
• Statistical Abstract of the United States

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Where to Find DataStatistical Abstract of the
United States
(The CD-ROM is available for free by calling
(301) 763-INFO (4636).
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Examples

• Motor fuel consumption
• Starbucks sales income
• Average price of a VCR
• Prescription drug spending
• Exxon Valdez oil spill spread

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Motor Fuel Consumption
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Motor Fuel Consumption
Model
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Starbucks Sales Income http//moneycentral.msn.co
m/investor
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Starbucks Sales Income
Model
Scatter Plot
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Average Price of a VCR Consumer Electronics
Association (www.ce.org)
In 1997, the average price was 157.
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Average Price of a VCR
Model
Scatter Plot
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Prescription Drug SpendingUSA Today - March 29,
2002
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Prescription Drug Spending
Model
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Exxon Valdez Oil Spill www.oilspill.state.ak.us
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Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
Model
Scatter Plot
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Technology Tutorial Activity

• Tech Tips on the TI-83/84
• Pick a data set of interest
• Enter a table of data
• Draw a scatter plot
• Use regression to find a function model
• Activity
• Write a meaningful question that may be addressed
  by the model
• Use the model to address the question

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Sample Exam Question Activity

• Pick a question to solve with your group
• Describe what benefit (beyond the mathematics)
  resulted from the exercise

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Questions?

• frank.wilson_at_cgcmail.maricopa.edu