In my post Arithmetic and Algebra, I wrote that it’s how you solve a problem that tells whether you are doing algebra or arithmetic, not the problem itself. Here’s a description
Levels of understanding of function in equation form
There are at least three representational systems used to study function: graphs, tables and equations. But unlike graphs and tables that are used to visually show the relationships between two varying
Algebra vs Arithmetic Thinking
Algebra had always been associated with high school mathematics while arithmetic, the study of numbers, is associated with elementary school mathematics. One of the solutions to help students understand algebra in
What pupils think about the equal sign
I gave a set of questions to a group of Grade 6 and 7 pupils in a public school. Here are two of the questions: Question 1: 173 + 49 =