CSET Mathematics (211/212/213) case studies
CSET Mathematics (211/212/213) · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The CSET Mathematics exam is used by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) to verify subject-matter competence for prospective mathematics teachers. It is intended for candidates seeking a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Mathematics, and it is typically taken alongside or after a teacher preparation program. The CSET Mathematics (211/212/213) case studies are 5 cases and about 2,783 words.
1Density and Decimal Equality in a Number-Systems Warm-Up
During a Grade 10 number-systems lesson, a teacher poses a warm-up: 'Is there a rational number between 0.33 and 1/3?' Of 28 students, 19 answer no. Their explanations cluster around two claims: (a) 0.33 and 0.333… are consecutive decimals, so nothing fits between them; (b) the gap is only about 0.00333…, too small to contain a fraction.
576 words, about 3 min2Linear Demand Extrapolation in Cafeteria Pricing
A high-school algebra team is analyzing cafeteria lunch sales after several price changes. The counts are: at 2.50, 400 meals sold; at 3.00, 340; at 3.50, 300; at 4.00, 270.
576 words, about 3 min3Area Scale Factor in a School Garden Model
A Grade 8 class is building a scale model of a rectangular school garden. The drawing measures 8 cm by 5 cm, and the scale is 1:50.
558 words, about 3 min4Association and Causation in a Wellness Survey
A school wellness committee surveys 300 students about after-school program participation and chronic absence, defined as more than 10 days absent. Results: 120 students participate in the program, and 48 of them are chronically absent.
480 words, about 2 min5Global Optimization of an Open-Top Box
In a calculus class, students are optimizing the volume of an open-top box made from a 20 cm by 30 cm rectangular sheet by cutting congruent squares of side x from each corner and folding up the sides. One student writes V = x(20 − 2x)(30 − 2x), tests x = 5 because it is halfway between 0 and 10, obtains V = 1000 cm³, and concludes this is the maximum.
593 words, about 3 min