TITLE
Private Universe Project in Mathematics: Workshop 5. Building on Useful Ideas

CLIP DESCRIPTION
Gina Kiczek introduces a problem that helps her students learn the difference between permutations and combinations. Students in the Kenilworth study examine "Pascal's Triangle:" what it is, its history, and how it is linked to the Towers and Pizza problems. In the 11th grade, the Kenilworth students build on their earlier thinking as young children to tackle a complex—and realistic—probability problem, the World Series Problem. In an after-school research session, Mike derives the formula for the general combinatorics problem “compute n choose r.”

OTHER STANDARDS
PSSM . Understand the meaning of operations and how they relate to one other (specifically, develop an understanding of permutations and combinations as counting techniques) (PSSM Number Standard for grades 9-12)

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
One of the strands of the Rutgers long-term study was to find out how useful ideas spread through a community of learners and evolve over time. Here, the focus is on the teacher’s role in fostering thoughtful mathematics.

RIGHTS
Smithsonian Institution-Astrophysical Observatory. All Rights Reserved.

PUBLISHER
Annenberg/CPB