Mathematical Skills Required in ATE Programs

A working draft of resources and reports from an NSF-sponsored project intended to strengthen the role of mathematics in Advanced Technological Education (ATE) programs. Intended as a resource for ATE faculty and members of the mathematical community. Comments are welcome by e-mail to the project directors: Susan L. Forman or Lynn A. Steen.

• Carrying out arithmetic calculations by hand and by calculator.
• Reasoning and calculating with percentages and ratios.
• Measuring things, recognizing tolerances, estimating error.
• Using and converting among formulas, tables, and graphs.
• Calculating angles, areas, and volumes.
• Finding averages, ranges, and medians in appropriate contexts.
• Understanding and employing irrational, real, and complex numbers.
• Solving simple algebraic equations.
• Displaying data (pie and bar charts; histograms, scatter plots).
• Applying the Pythagorean theorem.
• Solving simultaneous equations.
• Using triangle trigonometry to calculate unknown lengths or angles.
• Reasoning with standard deviation and the normal error curve.
• Solving quadratic equations.
• Factoring, simplifying, and manipulating algebraic expressions.
• Proving basic theorems of Euclidean geometry.
• Sketching and calculating dimensions of three-dimensionsional objects.
• Using exponential and logarithmic functions.
• Working with trigonometric functions, and graphs
• Calculating probabilities and combinatorial mathematics.
• Using control charts and tests of statistical significance.
• Applying equations and graphs of parabolas, ellipses, hyperbolas.
• Calculating and applying derivatives and integrals.

Copyright © 1999.   Last Updated: October 12, 1999.   Comments to: Susan L. Forman or Lynn A. Steen.