PUMAS (poo' • mas) -- is a collection of brief examples showing how math and science topics taught in K-12 classes can be used in interesting settings, including every day life.

The examples are written primarily by scientists, engineers, and other content experts having practical experience with the material. They are aimed mainly at classroom teachers, and are available to all interested parties via the PUMAS web site.

Our goal is to capture, for the benefit of pre-college education, the flavor of the vast experience that working scientists have with interesting and practical uses of math and science.

- Ralph Kahn
Pumas Editor and Founder

Featured PUMAS Example

Algebra Magic - Create Your Own Number Puzzles by Ramakrishnan Menon
Many people think of algebra as dealing with solving equations that have letters and numbers, and that it is completely unrelated to anything outside the math classroom. Also, teachers have a difficult time motivating students to learn algebra. I have found that not only are number/magic puzzles quite common outside the classroom, but also that they motivate students, and that teachers can successfully use such number puzzles as an interesting lead-in to algebra. Here I discuss two number/magic puzzles that can be demystified and explained by using algebra.
(view this example)

View the Examples

There are currently 93 examples in the PUMAS Collection.
View the full listing, organized by Example title.

We are always looking for neat examples of Practical Uses of Math And Science.
Please contribute!