The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which the modeling of deductive reasoning and proof-type thinking occurs in a mathematics course in which students are not explicitly preparing to write formal mathematical proofs. Algebra was chosen because it is the course that typically directly precedes a student's first formal…

Learning algebra is critical for students in the U.S. today. Algebra concepts provide the foundation for much advanced mathematical content. In addition, algebra serves as a gatekeeper to opportunities such as admission to college. Yet many students in the U.S. struggle in algebra classes. Researchers claim that one reason for these difficulties…

This module examines Rigor, the third of the three shifts required for implementation of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM). This module is based on the premise that the information from Modules 1 and 2 is well understood. Course Objectives: By the end of the module, the learner will be able to: (1) identify the components of…

We show that students rearranging the terms of a mathematical equation in order to separate variables prior to integration use gestures and speech to manipulate the mathematical terms on the page. They treat the terms of the equation as physical objects in a landscape, capable of being moved around. We analyze our results within the tradition of…

Text editing directs students' attention to the problem structure as they classify whether the texts of word problems contain sufficient, missing or irrelevant information for working out a solution. Equation worked examples emphasize the formation of a coherent problem structure to generate a solution. Its focus is on the construction of three…

In this note, we offer a proof of a variant of Morley's triangle theorem, when the exterior angles of a triangle are trisected. We also offer a generalization of Morley's theorem when angles of an "n"-gon are "n"-sected. (Contains 9 figures.)

By extending Faulhaber's polynomial to negative values of n, the sum of the p'th powers of the first n integers is seen to be an even or odd polynomial in (n + 1/2) and therefore expressible in terms of the sum of the first n integers.

For n = 1, 2, ... , we give a solution (x[subscript 1], ... , x[subscript n], N) to the Diophantine integer equation [image omitted]. Our solution has N of the form n!, in contrast to other solutions in the literature that are extensions of Euler's solution for N, a sum of squares. More generally, for given n and given integer weights m[subscript…

The current study investigated college students' content knowledge and cognitive abilities as factors associated with their algebra performance, and examined how combinations of content knowledge and cognitive abilities related to their algebra performance. Specifically, the investigation examined the content knowledge factors of computational…

A challenge: Can you create a stable top from a single paper clip? Several interesting solutions to this problem were provided by Takao Sakai from Japan, the requirement of each being that the center of gravity be located on the vertical y-axis at the center of the top. In the simplest configuration, we see that there exists a single angle ?…

This article outlines a problem-centered approach to the topic of canonical matrix forms in a second linear algebra course. In this approach, abstract theory, including such topics as eigenvalues, generalized eigenspaces, invariant subspaces, independent subspaces, nilpotency, and cyclic spaces, is developed in response to the patterns discovered…

The Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSI 2010) asks students in as early as fourth grade to solve word problems using equations with variables. Equations studied at this level generate a single solution, such as the equation x + 10 = 25. For students in fifth grade, the Common Core standard for algebraic thinking expects them to…

Little is known about how students learn the basic ideas of ring theory. While the literature addressing student learning of group theory is certainly relevant, the concepts of zero-divisor and, more generally, elements with no multiplicative inverse are among those for which group theory has no analogue. In order to better understand how students…

The use of multiple forms of collaborative instruction to teach integrated algebra makes it difficult for teachers to determine which collaborative form is best suited for the curriculum. An inconsistent approach to integrated algebra instruction at the study school needed to be addressed for the benefit of teacher effectiveness and student…

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate an assessment tool entitled the Algebra Curriculum Based Measure (ACBM) with the intent of measuring preschool children's sorting and classifying skills based on one attribute (color, shape, and size) and two attributes (color and shape) simultaneously; and their ability to explain their…