Algebraic notation has been bedazzling learners for generations, yet despite research, learned papers, comparative studies, and a great deal of hard work on the part of classroom practitioners the situation remains a stubborn constant. In this article some small-scale research has highlighted some issues that might find a resonance in many…

In this article, the authors share a European perspective on teaching linear equations in Finland, Flanders, and Hungary. They begin with an assertion that it is through observation, in its broadest sense, and opportunities for participation, that people assimilate themselves into the culture in which they are raised. They discuss three approaches…