The research reported in this article sought to develop a taxonomy of grade 11 students' levels of understanding in algebraic problem-solving tasks. The student sample was from high schools in the province of Ontario in Canada. Problems from four areas in algebra namely, variables, expressions, equations and word problems were chosen to be…

In this article, we explored Grade 11 learners' algebraic and geometric connections when solving Euclidean geometry riders. A qualitative interpretive case study design was followed. Thirty Grade 11 learners from a non-fee-paying secondary school in the Capricorn North district of South Africa were conveniently sampled to participate in this…

This article provides insights into Grade 11 learner understanding of the roots of quadratic equations, how learners used solution strategies to find equations with given roots, how they determine the unknown values and the other root when one root is given and how they determine the unknown values when two roots of the equation are given. The…

I explore students' discourses in small groups working on mathematical problems using GeoGebra, focusing on the Cartesian connection between algebra and geometry. Specifically, the interest lies in what is internally persuasive for students in upper-secondary school (11th grade) with histories of low attainment. Three problem-solving episodes are…

Critical thinking (CT) is a type of convergent thinking explored when students learn mathematics. This study aims to obtain a comprehensive representation of students' mathematical Critical Thinking (CT) abilities, based on the mathematical ability level. Data were obtained from 35 students using CT skills tests and semi-structured in-depth…

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a remedial teaching intervention in improving learners' understanding of trigonometric equations. Using a mixed methods exploratory case study design, a purposive sample of 24 Grade 11 learners from a rural school in the Eastern Cape province participated in the intervention. The research involved…

The acquisition of procedural and conceptual knowledge is imperative for the development of problem solving skills in mathematics. However, while there are mixed research findings on the relationship between the two domains of knowledge in some branches of mathematics, the relationship between learners' procedural and conceptual knowledge of…

The present study explored 285 11th-grade students' preconceptions, misconceptions, and errors in solving mathematics tasks by graphical method. A descriptive-explorative study design was adopted. Cluster sampling was used to select students from sampled secondary schools in eastern and central Uganda. Students' paper and pen solution sketches…

Structure sense can be interpreted as an intuitive ability towards symbolic expressions, including skills to perceive, to interpret, and to manipulate symbols in different roles. This ability shows student algebraic proficiency in dealing with various symbolic expressions and is considered important to be mastered by secondary school students for…

Recent research has explored the efficacy of the CRA-I (concrete-representational-abstract) strategy with students with disabilities (Strickland & Maccini, 2012, 2013). The CRA-I strategy is a promising practice that special educators have used to teach algebra to students with high-incidence disabilities. The CRA-I strategy is a modification…

Algebra is critical to high school graduation and college success, but student achievement in algebra frequently falls significantly below expected proficiency levels. While existing research emphasizes the importance of quality algebra instruction, there is little research about how to conduct problem analysis for struggling secondary students.…

This paper reports on a study of choices about the use of a computer algebra system (CAS) or pen-and-paper (p&p) by a class of seven Year 11 Mathematical Methods (CAS) students as they completed a calculus worksheet. Factors that influenced students' choices are highlighted by comparing and contrasting the use of CAS and p&p between…

The purpose of this mixed-method study was to investigate grade 11 university/college stream mathematics students' difficulties in applying conceptual knowledge, procedural skills, strategic competence, and algebraic thinking in solving routine (instructional) algebraic problems. A standardized algebra test was administered to thirty randomly…

This study is part of a larger research program aimed at studying mental mathematics with objects other than numbers. It concerns operations on functions in a graphical environment with Grade-11 students. Grounded in the enactivist theory of cognition, particularly in problem-posing, the study aims to characterize students' mathematical activity…

A well-known optimization problem is the Popcorn Box investigation, which involves a movie theater snack container. The problem has been tailored for classroom investigations by the Ontario Association for Mathematics Education. The exploration was designed for students in grades 9 through 12. A common strategy proposed for algebra students is to…