In This article we will discuss the computer and its use as a laboratory in conjunction with a traditional mathe matics course. This type of computer use has a direct analogy with the use of a physics laboratory as it applies to a phys ics recitation class, We will make this analogy sharper in the next paragraph. Before doing so, however, we point out that the mathematics used in this article should be within the reach of most 8th or 9th grade students. That is, it uses only elementary algebra including some in equalities. However, the problems are interesting and difficult enough to challenge 12th grade students and, in fact, any pre-calculus student.