Writing With Numbers
Recent Additions to This Section
(This section features sites added to the page in the last few weeks.
Each link is cross-referenced on the page in its proper category.)
WeirdConverter.com
A great site for analyzing numbers and coming up with odd facts and figures for stories. It's great for comparing sizes, weights and gives the reader some perspective. Investopedia: How the Dow Jones Is Calculated
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Consumer Price Index Database
Select an item (gas, food, etc.) and track price increases nationally over time. Great quick reference for stories. You also can track it by region or major metropolitan area by using the image map and pulldown menu on this page Bureau of Labor Statistics: Inflation Calculator Center for Environment and Population
CEP partners with leading experts and organizations to link science, to policy, and public outreach to better understand and address the issues. It helps compile, assess, and advance current knowledge and emerging trends on population and the environment. Martindales' Reference Desk: Online Calculators
Links to dozens of types of online calculators. Interest Calculator
Track the
difference a small percentage change in interest can
make on an investment over time. Nuclear Bomb Blast Calculator
Estimates the scope of devastation on nuclear attacks on specific U.S. cities. How Much Is That?
A database of facts regarding various monetary values, etc. Good for conversions.
BlogThings: Writing With Numbers
Can You pass 8th grade math? Currency Converter Percent Change Calculator
Check your accuracy with this tool. WSJ: The Numbers Guy
Great column on writing with numbers and stats. Mathematics of Tsunamis
The math and physics rules that govern them. WebMath
More than 1,000 pre-solved problems, many with free answers, for geometry, trig, algebra, etc. A very handy site for journalists. Newslab's Getting the Numbers Right Census: Statistical Abstract of the United States
The complete abstracts going back to 1995, mostly .PDFs of the book pages.
IRE Interactive Math Quiz
After you've taken the test, click on the link at the bottom of the page to find out how to arrive at the correct answers. The test covers calculating percentages, ages, murder rates, property tax bills, as well as estimating the size of a crowd and determine average and median salaries. The test is great for college journalism classes and newsroom training sessions. Martindales' Reference Desk: Online Calculators
Links to dozens of types of online calculators. Newslab's Getting the Numbers Right Robert Niles: Statistics Writers Should Know
An excellent reference primer from the LA Times' Robert Niles on stats for journalists.Start here with several math tutorials! Robert Niles: Figuring Percent Change Newsthinking.com's Math Refresher
A great quick-study in figure percentages, ratios, etc. Percent Change Calculator
Check your accuracy with this tool. Census: Statistical Abstract of the United States
The complete abstracts going back to 1995, mostly .PDFs of the book pages. WSJ: The Numbers Guy
Great column on writing with numbers and stats. Currency Converter Global Rich List Database Math Mistakes
Common errors by reporters, advertisers, politicians and activists. American Math Society: What's New in Mathematics
Includes a 'Feature Column' monthly essays on mathematical topics), 'Math in the Media' (highlights of math news from science literature and the current media), 'Math Digest' (summaries of articles on mathematics), and the 'AMS Public Awareness Office'(press releases, contacts for journalists, and more). Eric Weisstein's World of Mathematics No Train, No Gain: Numeracy Exercises No Train, No Gain: Numeracy Resources Matt Baron's "Go Figure" Site
Great tips for handling stats. Exploring Data
A resource for educators who are teaching introduction to statistics, with some basic instruction that could be helpful to journalists. No Train No Gain: Tips and Exercises
Handouts from training gurus Jack Hart and Joe Grimm and exercises by Debbie Wolfe. Newslab's Internet Resources for News with Numbers
This site includes links to helpful online calculators. Newslab's "Getting the Numbers Right" Phil Meyer's Mathematics Competency Test for Journalists Project for Excellence in Journalism's "Using Numbers" Online Conversion Nuclear Bomb Blast Calculator
Estimates the scope of devastation on nuclear attacks on specific U.S. cities. Geneva International Forum
A listing of international organizations located in Geneva. The database is searchable by keywords. How Much Is That?
A database of facts regarding various monetary values, etc. Good for conversions. Investopedia: How the Dow Jones Is Calculated
BlogThings: Writing With Numbers
Can You pass 8th grade math? John Allen Paulos: Mathematics
John Allen Paulos is a great source for math for journalists. He is a Professor of Mathematics at Temple and is a regular columnist on ABCNews.com. History of Mathematics
Lots of solid background information. Newsengin.com
Created by reporters, this site offers free computer tools, including cost-of-living calculators that adjust for inflation. Online Conversion Tool
Site has more than 8,100 calculators and conversion tables. Aneki.com
Rankings and statistics on hundreds of topics and countries. The world?s cleanest country, the country with the most mobile phones per capita, etc. SalaryExpert.com
A free provider of salary information from a veteran compensation and benefits consulting firm. It site shows pay data for over 30,000 jobs and displays pay data for more than 45,000 U.S./Canada cities. WebMath
More than 1,000 pre-solved problems, many with free answers, for geometry, trig, algebra, etc. A very handy site for journalists. Salary Converter
Compare what you make with sports, entertainment stars. ExploreMath.com
Animated equations show you how the variables change. Great for working out problems. Statistics.com Online Conversion
Offers thousands of calculators of various kinds. Mathematics Conversions
English to metric, etc. AFL-CIO CEO Raise Calculator
Type in your pay and see what it would be like to be a CEO receiving a CEO's raise. QUData.com: Data Mining Tools and Library
Data mining and knowledge for journalists or anyone needing online calculators. The site features online tools and library resources. Molecular Weight Calculator
Just input the formula, and it returns the molecular weight to 13 decimal places. Math for Journalists
Bruce Garrison of Miami University has put together this remedial tutorial. Metric Converter MSN: Jobs and Paychecks by County
Track the best and worst for jobs, pay, pay increases, etc. Homefair.com
This site also has a good salary calculator. Distance Converter Currency Converter
A great site, but always double-check your findings against another calculator. New York Time Exchange
This is a fun site that looks at time as a NYC commodity. Online Calculator Center
More calculators than you can imagine. Worldometers
Tracks stats on population, energy, education, economy. Great for quick-reference stats. Information provided by EARTH, Inc. (OSE) is a corporation established to acquire and commercialize the assets of the World Game Institute (WGI), a non-profit research and education organization. NASA Calculators
This site has it all: salary calculator, cost of living index. CPI, inflation index. CJR Inflation Index
Columbia Journalism Review site offers dollar conversion calculator. QUData: Data Mining Tools and Library
A great collection of online calculators, data mining, knowledge discovery online tools and library resources. Federal Inflation Index
Calculate increases in prices over the years. Newsengin Inflation Calculator
Calculate increases in prices over the years. West Egg Inflation Calculator
Calculate increases in prices over the years. Auriton Solutions
Calculators figure your cost of credit and the size of a mortgage you can afford. Aetna Finanical Calculators Quicken.com Debt Reduction Planner Bankrate.com Gas Price Calculators UnitsConverter.net Measurement Converters Virginia Commonwealth University: Math Test for Journalists University of North Carolina: Math Test for Journalists KitchenMath.com
Conversion tables for cooking measurements. Convert-Me.com
"Interactive calculators for many measurement systems both commonly used like metric and U.S. Avoirdupois and quite exotic like Ancient Greek and Roman." "Math Tools for Journalists" Book
Written by veteran educator Kathleen Woodruff Wickham Ed.D., "Math Tools" explains math concepts in layman?s language and shows how these concepts apply to situations journalists face every day. Cost: $16.95. Interest Calculator
Determine compounded daily interest. Interest Calculator
Track the
difference a small percentage change in interest can
make on an investment over time. Universal Currency Converter
Contains currency information on 180 currencies in over 250 geographical locations. Check Your Weight on Other Planets The Original Tipping Page
Lists acceptable amounts for specific situations. DeathClock.com
How many seconds do you have left? U.S. Census Bureau: U.S. and World Population Clock
Database allows you to search releases, warnings and news from the Food and Drug Administration. NewsEngin Cost-of-Living Calculator
USA Today: State-by-State Population Growth (1790-2000)
Center for Environment and Population
CEP partners with leading experts and organizations to link science, to policy, and public outreach to better understand and address the issues. It helps compile, assess, and advance current knowledge and emerging trends on population and the environment.
WeirdConverter.com
A great site for analyzing numbers and coming up with odd facts and figures for stories. It's great for comparing sizes, weights and gives the reader some perspective. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Consumer Price Index Database
Select an item (gas, food, etc.) and track price increases nationally over time. Great quick reference for stories. You also can track it by region or major metropolitan area by using the image map and pulldown menu on this page Bureau of Labor Statistics: Inflation Calculator Catalog of Math Resources
A great set of links from the University of Wisconsin. WWW Virtual Library: Mathematics
More great links from Florida State University. CNNfn.com's Finance Tips and Tools Page
Mortgage and refinance calculator, college planner, track stocks and more. TaxMama.com
Fun with tax statistics. Mathematics of Tsunamis
The math and physics rules that govern them.
We wanted to share a good example of how to put some large numbers or obscure measurements into context that the average reader can relate to: Q. Is there some way to put 488 acres into context, i.e., what is that as big as? A. One acre is equivalent to 43,560 sq. feet or 4,840 sq. yards. One football field is equivalent to 57,240 Sq. feet. So one acre is 76% the size of a football field. In the Midwest, farms were homesteaded and also sold by the railroads in quarter sections. A section is 640 acres. A section is also one square mile. A quarter section is 160 acres. Three quarter sections add up to 480 acres. Where I am from in Iowa the farmers often talk in terms of how many farms a person has. If the farm was 488 acres the farmer would call that three farms or 3/4 of a section. Or just 488 acres. For more business and personal finance sites, go to the Business section.
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