2003 WSMC HIGH SCHOOL MATHEMATICS CONTEST PROJECT QUESTION

What dangers and health risks do we face as we go through life?

As part of its services, the CDC (Center for Disease Control) maintains the Wonder database ( http://wonder.cdc.gov ) an easy-to-use system that provides a single point of access to a wide variety of CDC reports, guidelines, and numeric public health data. The CDC promotes "safer, healthier people." Your job is to investigate the ways in which our lives are sometimes unsafe and unhealthy.

Use mathematical methods of data analysis and representation to portray 1.) the nature and 2.) the degrees to which these dangers are present throughout the lives of both males and females. Do this for both males and females in five different sections* of the country. Your job is to enable the reader to understand how these dangers differ depending on your age, your sex, and where you live. Pay special attention to the precepts of the Representation standard in the NCTM (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics) document, **Principles and Standards of School Mathematics (2000).

*A "section" may be a state, a county, a metropolitan area, or a city. One of your sections must be Washington State.

**This document can be accessed online at http://standards.nctm.org/document/chapter7/rep.htm

© 1999 -2003 WSMC and Richard T. Edgerton

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