Computer Sciences Commons^™

The Teaching Of Equation Solving: Approaches In Standards-Based And Traditional Curricula In The United States, Jinfa Cai, Bikai Nie, John Moyer

Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science Faculty Research and Publications

This paper discusses the approaches to teaching linear equation solving that are embedded in a Standards-based mathematics curriculum (Connected Mathematics Program or CMP) and in a traditional mathematics curriculum (Glencoe Mathematics) in the United States. Overall, the CMP curriculum takes a functional approach to teaching equation solving, while Glencoe Mathematics takes a structural approach. The functional approach emphasizes the important ideas of change and variation in situations and contexts. It also emphasizes the representation of relationships between variables. The structural approach, on the other hand, requires students to work abstractly with symbols and follow procedures in a systematic way. …