For All Practical Purposes: Introduction to Contemporary Mathematics by Consortium for

Mathematics and Its Applications (COMAP), Inc.

Review by: Martin E. Flashman
The College Mathematics Journal, Vol. 21, No. 2 (Mar., 1990), pp. 164-165
Published by: Mathematical Association of America
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2686763 .
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For All PracticalPurposes:Introduction
to Contemporary
Mathematics,a televisioncourseproducedby
the Consortium for Mathematicsand Its Applications(COMAP), Inc. Textbook and study guide
publishedby W. H. Freemanand Company,1988. Module 1: ManagementScience
Introduction. For All PracticalPurposesis a video projectthat aims to illuminateand demystify the
"nature of mathematics,"with an underlyingthemeof the value of mathematicsto many different
applications.This series of 26 half-hourprogramsorganizedinto fivemodules {ManagementScience,
Statistics,Social Choice, On Size and Shape, and ComputerScience) was produced by COMAP with
major fundingby the Annenberg/CPBProject.
Each modulewas organizedand written by a different
groupof expertauthorsin conjunctionwiththe
coordinatingeditorLynn A. Steen and theprojectdirectorSolomon Garfunkel.And each is sufficiently
self-containedto stand alone.
Doing fulljustice to each of thevideo modulesand theaccompanyingtextresultedin a shortseriesof
separatereviews,one foreach module.An overviewdiscussingthegeneralstructure of the modulesand
the textbookappeared in a previousissue of the CMJ. This firstreviewdeals with the Management
Science module. Reviewsof the remainingmoduleswill appear in futureissues of the CMJ.
The videos?form. Each of the fiveprogramsthatcomprisethismodule is organizedso thatit can be
used independently.The firstprogramprovides an overviewof managementscience whereas the
remainingfourprograms(StreetSmarts: StreetNetworks', Trains,Planes, and CriticalPaths; Juggling
Machines'.SchedulingProblems',JuicyProblems'.LinearProgramming) focuson themathematics used to
investigatemanagementscience problems.The programsblend different video techniquessuch as
cartoons,graphics,personal interviewswith experts,and real (and not so real) applications,and all
moderated by Sol Garfunkel,executivedirectorof COMAP, Inc., and project directorof For All
PracticalPurposes.
The videos?content. The overviewprogramgivesa pleasant,nonthreatening surveyof some manage?
mentscience problems.Numerousproblemstatementsillustratewherea solutionwould have a definite
impact on effectiveness and efficiency.These include such activitiesas planningtravelto the moon,
organizinggarbage-collectionroutes,and reducingthe waitingtime at Disneyland.The later module
programsare also introducedthroughtheseexamples.
The overviewprogramalso begins to develop several themesthat continuethroughoutthe series:
problem solving in mathematics,the nature of mathematicalmodelling,the issues of optimality,
effectiveness,
efficiency,and the role of the computerin solvingproblemswith algorithms.Above all
of mathematics
these,the principleof the universality is revealedin stages.

1 64 THE COLLEGE MATHEMATICSJOURNAL

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 The level of mathematicaltechniqueand maturityincreases with each program.The overview
programstands at groundlevel,carefullyavoidingany initialcontactwithanxiety-producing facetsof
mathematics.The remainingprogramsworkjust as carefullyto raisethelevelof discourseso thatthelast
programpresentsan introduction to linearprogramming suitableforany undergraduate's firstencounter
withthe subject.
StreetSmartsclearlyintroducesgraph-theoretic modelsforroutingproblems.It presentsan excellent
discussionof Euler circuitresultswhilegivingnumerousillustrations of relatedproblemsand applica?
tions. The treatmentis manifold,includingtranslationof a real problemto graphtheory,questionsof
existenceof a solution,algorithmic proceduresforfindinga solution,theuse of computers,and even the
not uncommonrealityof havinga solutionrejectedfor"political" reasons.
Trains,Planes, and CriticalPaths providesa finesequel to StreetSmartsas it investigates algorithms
for findingefficient (in the sense of least cost) routes?that is, the travelling-salesmanproblem.The
unfortunatereality that algorithmsare not always efficientin findinga solution is introducedby
examining exhaustive searches that result in "combinatorialexplosions." We are led to look for
algorithmsthatnot onlywill solve theproblemsbut will allow us to findthe solutionefficiently. And if
we have to choose betweenthesetwo goals, frequently we will settleforan efficient
methodthatgivesa
solution close to the optimal one ratherthan an inefficient algorithmthat will produce an optimal
solutiononly afterwe are all dead.
The programuses a nice critical-pathanalysisof a schedulingproblemto point out that use of
mathematicscan lead to unexpectedresults and disclose otherwisehidden relations.The example
demonstratesverywell how a mathematicalmodel can help make a decision.
The discussionof schedulingis picked up again in the nextprogramJugglingMachines:Scheduling
Problems.Aftera reviewof basic elementsof modellingapplied to a schedulingproblem,a stringof
paradoxical resultsreinforces the previousprogram'smessageon the utilityof mathematicsformaking
decisions. It points out an oftenoverlookedaspect of modelling,that besides changingparametersto
improvetheproblemsolution,one can also jugglesome of themodelrelationships to finda betteranswer
in a different model. There is morethan one kind of jugglingdiscussedin thisprogram.For instance,
when Ronald Grahamjugglesballs,he describeshow he workson problemsolvingand "juggling"ideas.
The programcontinueswithmoreproblemsand algorithms, finishing withtheby-nowfamiliarthemeof
the universality of mathematics.
The concludingprogram,JuicyProblems:LinearProgramming, providesan excellentintroduction to
one of the most frequently discussedtopicsin undergraduatemathematicscoursesoutsideof calculus.
The program focuses initiallyon a productionmodellingproblem,simplifiesit, and then proceeds
througha combinationof geometry and algebrato give a verynice,albeit ratherstandard,introduction
to linear programming. All thepieces are thereto discuss the theoryand thepracticaldifficulties in the
solution,along with the enormousbreadthof applicability.Near the end, a vague discussionof the
simplexmethodand an even haziermentionof recentworkleave theimpressionthatthereis stillmuch
work to be done in this area, and demonstratethe vitalityand responsivenessof mathematicsto the
challenge for more effectivealgorithms.The module ends by remarkingthat all the problemsof the
previousprogramscould be reorganizedas linearprogramming problems,makinglinearprograminga
universaltool formanagementscience.
The bottomline. The programsin the ManagementScience modulepresenta strongstatementforthe
importanceof mathematicsto dailylife.The moduleis well organizedand containsa sound pedagogical
development.Besides workingin generalcontemporary mathematicscourses,theseprogramscan serve
verywell in othercourses(e.g., businessmathematics, finitemathematics, discretemathematics, mathe?
matical modelling,mathematicsfor elementaryeducation,graph theory)at eitheran elementaryor
intermediatelevel of sophistication.The linearprogramming introductioncould also be used forcourses
in intermediatealgebraand beginninglinearalgebra.This is certainlyan extensivelist,but thecontentof
theseprogramsdoes have a trulybroad appeal.
As a whole, thismodulepresentsan unbeatablevalue forin-classor supplementary use. For precise
and timelyinformationabout preview,purchase,and access, contact The Annenberg/CPBProject.
Phone 1-800-LEARNER. Thereis no doubt thatthismodule and the seriesis a bestbuy amongall the
visual resourcesin mathematicsavailable today. Therefore,I recommendpurchasingthe completeset
even if you are only interestedin thisfirstmodule.
In summary:send forsomepreviewvideostoday,checkwithyourlocal PBS stationforwhen For All
PracticalPurposesmaybe shown,and watchfortheremaininginstallments of thisserieswheretheother
modules will be reviewed.
MartinE. Flashman
Humboldt State University

VOL. 21, NO. 2, MARCH1990 1 65

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