Addison-Wesley Secondary Math: An Integrated Approach: Focus on Algebra

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Focus on Algebra was the widely cited 812 page algebra textbook which contained much context outside the traditional field of mathematics. Real life context to make mathematics more informative included chili recipes, ancient myths, a photograph of Maya Angelou and Bill Clinton.

Although it was a widely used textbook, it became best known for making headlines when it was dubbed "Rainforest algebra" by critics. A Japanese math book for students of the same age has about 200 pages according to Richard Askey, of the Department of Mathematics at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, yet Asian nations often get higher math test scores.

1 Senate Testimony
2 Math problems
3 See also
4 References

[edit] Senate Testimony

Senator Robert Byrd, Democrat from West Virginia, joined critics of reform mathematics on the floor of the senate by dubbing Addison-Wesley Secondary Math: An Integrated Approach: Focus on Algebra the "Texas rainforest algebra book,". It had received an "F" grade on a report card produced by Mathematically Correct. It had no algebra until page 100. ^[1]

[edit] Math problems

What other kinds of pollution besides air pollution might threaten our planet? [page 163]

Each year the Oilfield Chili Appreciation Society holds a chili cook-off. . . . 1. The chili cook-off raises money for charity. Describe some ways the organizers could raise money in the cook- off. 2. What is the hottest kind of pepper that you have eaten? People who have tasted them agree that cayenne peppers are hotter than pimento peppers. How would you set up a hotness scale for peppers? . . . . [page 217]

What role should zoos play in today's society? . . . . [page 233]

[A] zoo sponsors a creative writing contest for high school �students. The topic for the essay this year is "Why should we save an endangered species?" . . . . What would you use as criteria for judging the essay? [page 253]