Posted in Trigonometry

Algebra test items: Trigonometric Functions

This is my third post on constructing test items based on TIMSS Assessment Framework. My first set of examples is about assessing understanding of zeros of polynomial function and the second post is about graphs of rational functions. Of course there are other frameworks that may be used for constructing test item like the Bloom’s Taxonomy. However, in my experience, Bloom’s is not very useful in mathematics, even its revised version.  The best framework so far for mathematics is that of TIMMS’s which I summarized here.

Here are three examples of trigonometry test questions using the three different cognitive levels:  knowing facts, procedures and concepts, applying, and reasoning.

Knowing

If  cos2(3x-3) = 5 , what is the value of 1-sin2 (3x-3) equal to?

a. 0

b. 1

c. 3

d. 4

e. 5

Applying

Given the graphs of f and g, sketch the graph of f+g.

Reasoning

Which of the following functions will have the same set zeroes as function g, given that g(x) = sin kx and f(x) = k?

a. f+g

b. fg

c. fg

d. g/f

e. gof

Posted in Algebra, Assessment, High school mathematics

Algebra test items – Graphs of rational functions

TIMSS (Trends in international Math and Science Study) classifies test items in terms of cognitive domains namely, Knowing facts, procedures, concepts; Applying the facts, procedures and concepts usually in a routine problem solving task; and, Reasoning. Click here for detailed descriptions of each.

In my earlier post about this topic on using the TIMSS Assessment Framework for constructing test items I presented a set of questions about zeros of cubic polynomial function. Here are three more test items about graphs of rational function based on the framework. Note that questions should be independent of each other, that is, an answer in one item should not serve as clue to the other items. I only used the same rational function here to highlight the differences among the cognitive domains – knowing, applying, reasoning.

Knowing

What may be the equation of the graph below?

 

Applying

The graph above the x-axis is function f and the graph below the x-axis is function g.  Which of the following equations describes the relationships between f and g?

a. g(x) = f(-x)              b. g(x) = f-1(x)                c. g(x) = f-1(-x)                d. g(x) = -f(x)              e. g(x) = /f(x)/

Reasoning

Carlo drew the figure below by graphing two functions on the same coordinate axes. The graph on the left is f(x) = 4/x2. Which of the following function is represented by the other graph on the right (the blue one)?

a. g(x)=\frac {4}{x^2}        b. g(x)=4+\frac {4}{x^2}        c. g(x)=\frac {4}{(x-2)^2}       d. g(x)=\frac {4}{(x-4)^2}                                   e. g(x)=\frac {4}{(x+4)^2}

All the graphs in these post were made using Geogebra graphing software. It’s a free graphing tool you can download here.

Posted in Algebra, Assessment

Algebra test items – Zeroes of function

I find the Trends in International Math and Science Study (TIMSS) Assessment Framework useful for constructing test items. TIMSS classified the questions in terms of cognitive domains namely, Knowing facts, procedures, concepts; Applying the facts, procedures and concepts usually in a routine problem solving task; and, Reasoning. Click here for detailed descriptions of each.

Here are three items assessing students’ learning about zeroes of function using each category in the framework. I used the same polynomial function to illustrate the differences among the three. In the real exam use different polynomial for each category so it won’t stand as hint to other questions.

Knowing

Which of the following is a zero of f(x) =6x3 – 17x2 – 5x + 6?

a. -6                b. -3               c. 0           d. 3        e. 6

There is no way apart from luck that students will choose the correct answer in this question if they don’t know what a zero of a function is. There are many ways of getting the correct answer of course (graphical, applying factor theorem, definition of zero of function).

Applying

What is the value of k if 3 is a zero of f(x) = 6x3 – kx2 – 5x + 6?

Questions about applying usually include standard textbook problem like the one shown above. It involves knowledge of a a fact/concept or procedure to complete the task. It does not only involve straightforward application of concepts unlike those under Knowing questions.

Reasoning

If 3 is a zero of a third degree polynomial function f, which of the following statements can never be true about this function?

a. f(0) = 3.

b. f(-3) = 0.

c. (0,0) is a point on the graph of f

d. (-3,3) is a point on the graph of f

e. (3,-3) is a point on the graph of f

Unlike questions under Applying which are standard or routine tasks, tasks under Reasoning category are usually non-routine and involves decision-making.

Click link to view another set of test items about graphs of rational functions.

Posted in Elementary School Math, Number Sense

Math War over Multiplication

The post It  Ain’t No Repeated Addition by Devlin launched a math war over the definition of multiplication. Here’s an excerpt from that post:

“Multiplication simply is not repeated addition, and telling young pupils it is inevitably leads to problems when they subsequently learn that it is not. Multiplication of natural numbers certainly gives the same result as repeated addition, but that does not make it the same. Riding my bicycle gets me to my office in about the same time as taking my car, but the two processes are very different. Telling students falsehoods on the assumption that they can be corrected later is rarely a good idea. And telling them that multiplication is repeated addition definitely requires undoing later.”

What is multiplication?

Multiplication is repeated addition is definitely not correct. Counterexample: 1/2 x 1/4. Try also doing it with integers like -5 x -4 (not that you need two counterexamples to reject a statement). But is it correct to say that in the set of whole numbers multiplication is repeated addition? I think not. You can get the result by repeated addition for this set of number yes, but that does not make repeated addition a definition of multiplication. An operation is not defined by the strategy of getting its result.

But, should teachers in the grades stop telling pupils that multiplication is repeated addition? YES! In fact, they should refrain from telling pupils any rule at all. The pupils are perfectly capable of figuring things like these by themselves given the right task/activity and good facilitation by the teacher.

And let us suppose that students get this conception that multiplication is repeated addition, is there really a problem? Their world revolve around whole numbers so it’s only logical that this will be their understanding of it. Generalizing is a natural human tendency. Something must be wrong if they will not make this connection between multiplication and addition.

What is wrong with “undoing” later? Mathematics is man-made and there’s also a lot of trial and error part in its development. That is why  “undoing” and rejection by counterexample are legitimate processes . And, isn’t ‘undoing’ part of teaching? Good teachers are those who can find out or know what they should be ‘undoing’ when they teach mathematics. ‘Multiplication is repeated addition’ is only one of  many ‘over-generalizations’ pupils will make that teachers need to carefully undo later. There’s “when you multiply, you make it bigger”, or “the sum of two numbers is always bigger than any of the two you added”, etc. One way to prevent an over-generalization is to offer a counterexample. But where will you get that counterexample when their math still revolves around the world of whole numbers!

As teachers, don’t we all love that part of teaching where we challenge students’ assumptions? I’m not saying that we should deliberately lead pupils to over-generalizations so we have something to undo later. For example, we don’t lead them to “division is repeated subtraction”? Most of the time oversimplifying mathematics is not a good idea.

Click link to know what others say about multiplication is not repeated addition.

Fractal as multiplication model