Solving Equations with Parameters

Bat-Sheva Ilany, Dina Hassidov

Beit-Berl College, Kfar Saba, Israel.
Western Galilee College, Akko, Israel.

DOI: 10.4236/ce.2014.511110                

Abstract

This study examines how high school pupils and student teachers tackle equations that are presented in various ways. Some presentations are non-standard, for example having to express “a” (usually perceived as a parameter) in terms of “x” (usually perceived as a variable). We investigate how subjects solve those equations as well as the differences between pupils and student teachers.Our findings suggest that equations containing parameters are more difficult to solve than equations without parameters. The difficulties are associated with the letters that should be expressed and in the arrangement of the equation. The results of this study may expand the knowledge of teachers on the subject of equations with parameters and on the specific difficulties encountered by students during the solution process.

Keywords

Equations, Parameters, High School Pupils, Student Teachers, Mathematics Education, Mathematics Knowledge, Cognition and Mathematics

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

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