University of Montana Math Professor Johnny Lott writes lessons by the ‘Numb3rs’ – his team boils the complex problems into exercises that can be understood by average seventh- through 12th-graders.

Some of the genius-level math featured on the TV program "Numb3rs" is being translated into exercises for kids by a math professor at the University of Montana.

Johnny Lott, a faculty member at UM for the past 31 years, leads a team that designs activities derived from the prime-time CBS program, which airs on Fridays. The lessons for teachers, students and parents are then placed on the "We All Use Math Every Day" Web site at http://www.cbs.com/primetime/numb3rs/ti/activities.shtml.

"It’s kind of a hoot doing this," said Lott, who receives a synopsis of the math used in each program before it airs. Then, under a tight deadline, he and his team boil the complex problems into exercises that can be understood by average seventh- through 12th-graders.

Full Story: http://news.umt.edu/index.asp?sec=1&too=100&eve=8&dat=10/19/2005&npa=945