Out of the Math Box!

Activities, Writings, and Videos by Debra K. Borkovitz

  • Math
    • Algebra
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    • Fractions Decimals and Percents
    • Geometry
    • Liberal Arts Mathematics
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  • Teaching
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  • MTEL
    • Main
    • Interpreting Your Results
    • 0016 Num Sys/Place Val
    • 0017 Int, Frac, Dec, Percent, Mixed
    • 0018 Number Theory
    • 0019 Operations
    • 0020 Algebra
    • 0021 Concept of Function
    • 0022 Linear Func and Eqns
    • 0023 Measurement
    • 0024 Geometry
    • 0025 Descriptive Stats
    • 0026 Probability
    • 1 Random Question
    • 5 Random Questions
    • 10 Random Questions
    • 20 Random Questions
    • 45 Random Questions
  • Video
    • Algebra/Discrete Math
    • Geometry
    • Number/Operations
    • Number Theory
  • Blog
    • Whole Math Teacher Blog
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
  • Math
    • Algebra
    • Calculus
    • Discrete Mathematics
    • Fractions Decimals and Percents
    • Geometry
    • Liberal Arts Mathematics
    • Number Systems
    • Number Theory
    • Quantitative Reasoning
    • Trigonometry
    • Whole Numbers and Operations
    • Random Cool Math Things
  • Teaching
    • Assessment
    • GeoGebra
    • Problem Solving Activities
    • SketchUp
    • Spreadsheets
  • MTEL
    • Main
    • Interpreting Your Results
    • 0016 Num Sys/Place Val
    • 0017 Int, Frac, Dec, Percent, Mixed
    • 0018 Number Theory
    • 0019 Operations
    • 0020 Algebra
    • 0021 Concept of Function
    • 0022 Linear Func and Eqns
    • 0023 Measurement
    • 0024 Geometry
    • 0025 Descriptive Stats
    • 0026 Probability
    • 1 Random Question
    • 5 Random Questions
    • 10 Random Questions
    • 20 Random Questions
    • 45 Random Questions
  • Video
    • Algebra/Discrete Math
    • Geometry
    • Number/Operations
    • Number Theory
  • Blog
    • Whole Math Teacher Blog
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous

Problem Solving Activities

Home » Teaching » Problem Solving Activities

22 Nov 2011

The Handshake Problem

posted in: Algebra, Discrete Mathematics, Problem Solving Activities | 2

The handshake problem is an old chestnut — if everyone in the room shook hands with everyone else, how many handshakes would there be? Then generalize. What I have to add to teaching the problem is a handout (doc version, … Read More

Recursive Equations, Triangle numbers
21 Nov 2011

Clock Buddies — A Round Robin Tournament Activity

posted in: Discrete Mathematics, Problem Solving Activities | 0

This is a great first day of class activity, which works well with math phobic students (I use it in a math for elementary teachers class). Students make a list 1:00, 2:00, etc. on a piece of paper — however … Read More

First day of class, Learn names, Tournaments
1 Sep 2011

Pool Table Math with Excel (includes a Video)

posted in: Number Theory, Problem Solving Activities, Spreadsheets | 0

This is a classic problem solving activity that I first saw many years ago in Mathematics: A Human Endeavor.   The NCTM has a nice applet to test cases one at a time.   Since I like playing with Excel and … Read More

Study group, Video
17 Aug 2009

The Biggest Product

posted in: Calculus, Problem Solving Activities, Whole Numbers and Operations | 0

I start this activity by handing out buckets of tiles (any small objects will do) and asking students to take 10. They can sort their ten tiles into any number of piles, and their “prize” is the product of the … Read More

Study group
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