This study aims to explore the conceptualisations of function that some students express when they are responding to fictitious students' statements about functions. We also asked them what is meant by "function" and many voluntarily used examples in their responses. The task was developed in collaboration with teachers from two…

Usually a student learns to solve a system of linear equations in two ways: "substitution" and "elimination." While the two methods will of course lead to the same answer they are considered different because the thinking process is different. In this paper the author solves a system in these two ways to demonstrate the…

Of the "big four", division is likely to regarded by many learners as "the odd one out", "the difficult one", "the one that is complicated", or "the scary one". It seems to have been that way "for ever", in the perception of many who have trodden the learning pathways through the world of…

In some secondary mathematics curricula, there is a topic called Stereometry that deals with investigating the position and finding the intersection, angle, and distance of lines and planes defined within a prism or pyramid. Coordinate system is not used. The metric tasks are solved using Pythagoras' theorem, trigonometric functions, and sine and…

How can children's natural perceptuo-motor skills be harnessed for teaching and learning mathematical structure? We address this question in the case of the integers. Existing research suggests that adult mental representations of integers recruit perceptuo-motor functionalities involving symmetry. Building on these findings, we designed a…

Building coherence in the development of mathematical ideas across the grades is key to improving students' mathematical learning in the United States. Knowing the mathematical experiences, understanding, skills, and habits of mind that students bring to a grade level and what the expectations are for the following grades can help teachers bridge…

The solutions of the discrete logistic growth model based on a difference equation and the continuous logistic growth model based on a differential equation are compared and contrasted. The investigation is conducted using a dynamic interactive spreadsheet. (Contains 5 figures.)

This paper focuses on using technology to support mathematics instruction. Technologies such as computers and calculators are widely used in the teaching of mathematics. The educators advocate the use of these tools to reduce tiresome computations and tasks so that class time can be more effectively used for learning mathematics. The purpose of…

Four problems are presented and solutions using a calculator are illustrated. (MK)

The paper starts from classroom situations about the study of a functional relationship with help of technological tools as a "transposition" of experimental approaches from research mathematical practices. It considers the limitation of this transposition in existing curricula and practices based on the use of non-symbolic software like dynamic…

The standards, benchmarks, and indicators in this document were created to help Kansas educators develop local curricula and assessments, and to serve as the basis for the state assessments in mathematics. The committee strove to recommend high yet reasonable expectations for all students. There are four mathematics curricular standards: (1)…

Calculator-based activities are presented that may be used as the framework for a unit to replace much of the usual algebra material on exponential functions and logarithms. (MP)

Two problems are presented and discussed as a means of demonstrating that the calculator can play a more important role in the mathematics class than simply as a computational tool. (MP)

This study assessed the effectiveness of the remedial/developmental mathematics program developed at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Data was gathered from a random sample of 604 students who participated in the program for at least part of the three-year period 1981-84 and for whom both pretest and posttest scores were available in at least one…

Proposed is a gradual transition from arithmetic to the idea of an equation with variables in the elementary grades. Vertical and horizontal formats of open sentences, the instructional sequence, vocabulary, and levels of understanding are discussed in this article. (KR)