100,000 Computers a Day

A rare and fascinating look inside the world's largest computer manufacturer, Dell Inc., where thousands of computers are custom-built and shipped around the world every day. From the call center to the inventory system to the assembly line and beyond, one thing is certain: The whole operation relies on a variety of math skills every step of the way.
Running time 5:00 minutes.

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The Bakery

Whether it's fractions or measurement or division, a key ingredient to this baker's success is math, making each one of his pastries, cakes and breads as delicious as the last.

Running time 5:35 minutes.

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The Business of Farming

Do your students know where their food comes from? There are more than 350 different commodities grown in California, including rice, dairy, avocados, meat, strawberries, grapes and lots and lots of almonds. In a state that provides approximately 15 percent of the United States agriculture, statistics are an important tool that agricultural economists use in California to keep up with its supply and demand.
Running time 4:30 minutes.

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The First American Coins

Steve Contursi owns the first gold coin minted in the US. It's worth 6 million dollars. But numismatists like Steve don’t just collect coins—they also collect their stories. From the meaning behind the term "two-bits" to Martha Washington's silverware, the stories of our money are rich in history and math!
Running time 5:55 minutes.

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First One in the Ballpark

Determining who is the best athlete on the field is hardly a matter of opinion. Sports reporters stay ahead of the competition by arriving early and keeping a close watch on statistics.
Running time 2:11 minutes.

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Flowers by the Millions

You buy a dozen roses - he buys 3 million! Plus 1,250 sunflowers, 4,000 irises, and 5,000 calla lilies. In fact, he buys more than 100 million flowers a year. Introduce your students to someone who works with really big numbers. This real world context sets the stage for problem solving, decimal operations and even algebra.
Running time 5:05 minutes.

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Ice Cream the Italian Way

From having the right ingredients on hand for all 300 flavors to keeping the frozen treats at a frosty -30 degrees, the technicians at Ciao Bella Gelato Company have ice cream making down to a science.
Running time 5:05 minutes.

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In the Chef's Kitchen

At Element's Kitchen in Pasadena, CA, these skilled and creative chefs are inventing delectable new dishes and bringing new life to familiar ones. Whether they're planning bulk orders for next week's menu, measuring the correct amounts of ingredients or figuring out how to scale up a recipe for a catered event, it's clear that math is almost as important a tool as their pots and pans.
Running time 5:05 minutes.

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The Lundberg Farms

$The Lundberg Farms$ This farmer raises many varieties of organic rice in central California. It's a satisfying job that requires an understanding of variables.