Math Insight Frequently Asked Questions


Contents:
	What is Math Insight? What are the system requirements for Math Insight? What are the benefits of using Math Insight? What problems(activities) are included with Math Insight? What tools are included with Math Insight?

*What is Math Insight?*
	Math Insight is a set of computer-based problem-solving activities for middle grades (5-8) that typically take between one and three 45-minute class periods to complete. Students are presented with short situations in which teenage characters encounter realistic mathematics problems. The students then use the software to gather additional information about the problems, generate solutions with computer-based tools, and communicate their solutions in writing..
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*What are the system requirements for Math Insight?*
	PC: PC-compatible computers need to be running Windows 95/98/2000/ME, with a Pentium 166 Mhz processor, or better. A minimum of 64 megabytes of RAM is recommended. About 40 megabytes of free storage on a hard drive is needed for installation. A sound card and speakers are needed to hear the sound in the multimedia clips. A CD-ROM drive is needed, both to install the software and to access the multimedia problems. Macintosh: Macintosh computers require OS 8.1 or above, with a Power PC G3 microprocessor. A minimum of 64 megabytes of RAM is recommended. About 64 megabytes of available hard disk space is needed for installation. A CD-ROM drive is needed, both to install the software and to access the multimedia problems.
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*What are the benefits of Math Insight?*
	Math Insight provides an environment that helps students solve problems in a set of easy- to-understand steps, roughly along the lines suggested by the mathematician George Pólya, Math Insight focuses on important mathematics, including all strands of the NCTM Standards for middle school mathematics, Math Insight comes with 18 problems that take from one to three class periods to solve, Math Insight engages students with graphics- or video-based situations in which fictional teenage characters encounter realistic mathematics problems, and Math Insight provides an entire suite of computer-based tools for solving the problems (including spreadsheets, data tables, interactive geometric sketches, and more).
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*What problems are included with Math Insight?*
	There are currently 18 problems linked to strands in the NCTM (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics) standards.
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*What tools are included with Math Insight?* Math Insight includes powerful tools for calculations, data analysis, plotting, and geometrical visualization. These tools may be used to solve a Math Insight problem or any other problem: Data Table Geometric Sketch Geometric Sketch Linked to Data Table Scatterplot Histogram Box Plot Spreadsheet Function Grapher Calculator Spinner
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