Title :
Fun in teaching counting using the powerball lottery
Author :
Kinnersley, Nancy ; Kong, Man C.
Author_Institution :
Univ. of Kansas, Lawrence
Abstract :
One of the many challenges in teaching a required course in discrete mathematical structures to students in computing-related curricula is undoubtedly the teaching of counting techniques and their applications. Traditionally, a technique-driven approach is often adopted in which basic counting principles are introduced one at a time and then unrelated examples are used to illustrate the application of each counting principle. Unfortunately, students often mistake each cleverly constructed solution as a "trick" and fail to understand the underlying counting principle involved under different conditions. In this paper, we propose a problem-driven approach using the powerball lottery and its variations. By examining how numbers can be selected, fundamental counting principles such as the sum and product rules, permutations and combinations, the pigeonhole principle, and other counting principles can easily be introduced and explored. Using this approach, we are able to motivate our students to study and enjoy doing counting.
Keywords :
computer science education; educational courses; mathematical analysis; Powerball lottery; computing-related curricula; discrete mathematical structures; pigeonhole principles; problem-driven approach; sum product rules; technique-driven approach; Application software; Computer science; Computer science education; Mathematics; Power engineering computing; Computer science education; Counting; Discrete mathematical structures; Permutations and Combinations;
Conference_Titel :
Frontiers In Education Conference - Global Engineering: Knowledge Without Borders, Opportunities Without Passports, 2007. FIE '07. 37th Annual
Conference_Location :
Milwaukee, WI
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-1083-5
Electronic_ISBN :
0190-5848
DOI :
10.1109/FIE.2007.4417967