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ERIC Number: EJ819055
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Nov
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0025-5769
EISSN: N/A
A Pretty Good Fit
Erickson, Tim
Mathematics Teacher, v102 n4 p256-262 Nov 2008
We often look for a best-fit function to a set of data. This article describes how a "pretty good" fit might be better than a "best" fit when it comes to promoting conceptual understanding of functions. In a pretty good fit, students design the function themselves rather than choosing it from a menu; they use appropriate variable names; and they vary parameter values by hand--sometimes with the aid of residuals and other tools--to help their function fit the data. (Contains 8 figures and 2 online resources.)
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. 1906 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191-1502. Tel: 800-235-7566; Tel: 703-620-3702; Fax: 703-476-2970; e-mail: orders@nctm.org; Web site: http://www.nctm.org/publications/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A