Teaching Secondary Mathematics

Module 5:
Understanding students mathematical thinking:
Focus on algebra and the meaning of letters. 5
Outline of Module 5

1. The learner at the centre

2. The Meaning of Letters in Algebra: 5.25

3. Assessment
Putting the learner at the centre by;

Assessment for Learning

The meaning of letters in algebra 4.25

This indicator of progress provides some ways to determine

students misconceptions behind all algebra

2 illustrations and 4 teaching activities from the teaching

strategies will:

provide items for teachers to use to diagnose how students

are thinking about algebraic letters

offer suggestions for introducing algebra with letters

standing
for numbers, not objects
The meaning of letters in algebra 4.25

What do students think?

Some students believe that:

Algebraic letters are abbreviations for words or things

Algebra is a sort of shorthand

Algebraic letters stand for a secret code.

The meaning of letters in algebra 4.25
2(3 apples + 4 bananas )

2 3 apples + 24 bananas

6 apples and 8 bananas

Illustration 1: Algebraic letters do
Using pro numerals not stand for things
2 ( 3a + 4b)

2 3a + 24b

6a +8b
The meaning of letters in algebra 4.25

Students may have developed these misconceptions from:

Copying other symbol systems letters are often used as:

Abbreviations for words in everyday life

Teaching fruit salad algebra

False analogies e.g. with codes

The meaning of letters in algebra 4.25

Anything wrong with this reasoning?

The meaning of letters in algebra 4.25

Confusions about the meanings of letters: doughnuts

Students were asked the following question:

Write an equation which describes the situation

6 doughnuts cost 12 dollars

Correct equation, written by nearly all students,

6d = 12, but what does it mean?

Instructions to students:
After you have written the equation, say what quantity each
of the numerals and pronumerals represents.
Interpreting student work 6d=12
6 doughnuts cost 12 dollars.

Student 6 d 12
amount of
Anna* doughnuts
doughnuts cost

Ben numeral pronumeral numeral

amount of cost per

Cath doughnuts doughnut
Total price

Dan six doughnuts cost $12

number of
Ellie doughnuts
doughnuts price

* by far most common response

Interpreting student work 6d=12
6 doughnuts cost 12 dollars

Only
Student 6 d 12 one
correct!
amount of
Anna* doughnuts
doughnuts cost

Ben numeral pronumeral numeral

amount of cost per
Cath doughnuts doughnut
Total price

Dan six doughnuts cost $12

number of
Ellie doughnuts
doughnuts price

* by far most common response

Interpreting student work 6d=12
6 doughnuts cost 12 dollars

Fran wrote this incorrect equation

2 d = 12

2 = cost of each doughnut

d = number of doughnuts

12 = overall cost

Unusual incorrect response, but Fran is one of the few students

who thought carefully about what she really meant.
The meaning of letters in algebra 4.25
At a university there are 6 students for every professor.
Let S be the number of students, P be the number of
professors,
and write an equation.

Letter as object misconception again

6S = P

Famous problem
The meaning of letters in algebra 4.25

A factory makes bicycles and tricycles, using the same

wheels

Supplier provides no more than 100 wheels per day

Their customer requires at least 4 tricycles for every bicycle.

Profit is $300 for either a bicycle or a tricycle.

Aim is to maximise profit

(How many of each should the factory make?)
The meaning of letters in algebra 4.25

Make 7 bicycles and 28

39
36
tricycles, for maximum
33 profit - correct
Number of tricycles (T)

30
27
24
21
18
15
12
9
6
The possible numbers of
3 bicycles and tricycles are
-2 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 in the shaded region
Number of bicycles (B)
The meaning of letters in algebra 4.25

Supplier provides no more than 100 wheels per day

Their customer requires at least 4 tricycles for every bicycle.

B = number of bicycles made per day

T = number of tricycles made per day

Number of wheels less than 100: 2B + 3T 100

4 tricycles for each bicycle: Is it 4T B or 4B T?

Writing 4T B or 4T B is one of the most common errors

The meaning of letters in algebra 4.25
Make 7 bicycles and 28
tricycles, for maximum
39
36
profit - correct
33
30
Number of tricycles (T)

27
24 wrong line
21
18
15
12
9
6
3
The possible numbers of
bicycles and tricycles are in
-2 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
the shaded region
Number of bicycles (B)
The meaning of letters in algebra 4.25

Misconceptions about what a letter stands for in algebra

affect formulating equations

Students need to understand that:

A letter stands for one quantity

The meaning is fixed through the problem

x doesnt just stand for what is being sought at the time

The meaning of letters in algebra 4.25

Illustration 2- Diagnostic item

Write an equation that describes the following situation.
Use b to stand for the number of blue pencils and r to stand
for the number of red pencils.

I bought some red pencils and some blue pencils and spent a
total of 90 cents. The blue pencils cost 10 cents each and the
red pencils cost 6 cents each.
Explain the following student answers

10b + 6r = 90 (correct)

b+r = 90

6b+5r = 90

b=3, r = 10

I bought some red pencils and some blue pencils and spent a
total of 90 cents. The blue pencils cost 10 cents each and the red
pencils cost 6 cents each. Write an equation to describe this
situation.
The meaning of letters in algebra 4.25

Characteristics of students thinking

Students are experiencing problems with the meaning of letters.
The equation that they write may look like what we write, but
the meaning is not the same!
Students have achieved success without using algebra. They
dont understand algebra is helpful - often do the problem first
by logical arithmetic reasoning and then dress up as algebra
by sprinkling letters around.
Research shows similar observations around the globe, but to
different extent.
The meaning of letters in algebra 4.25

Using algebra to solve problems

Algebra provides a very different method of solving problems,
it is not just a new language
Students may experience difficulties when making the transition
from arithmetical to algebraic thinking in
having different idea of the unknown (transient vs fixed)
Believing that an equation only describes the information in
a question
algebraic solving proceeds by transforming one equation into
another: very different way of thinking.
The meaning of letters in algebra 4.25

Diagnosing students thinking

MARK AND JAN

Mark and Jan share $47, but Mark gets $5 more than Jan.

How much do they each get?

The meaning of letters in algebra 4.25
Brenda (Year 9)
Uses logical arithmetic reasoning letters added at the end
47 / 2 = 23.5 - 2.5 = x
47 / 2 = 23.5 + 2.5 = y
Wylie (October Year 10)
Uses logical arithmetic reasoning & writing answer as a formula
y = (47-5) / 2 + 5 = 42/2 + 5 = 26
x = (47-5) / 2 = 42/2 = 21
Other students wrote:
y = (T - D) / 2 + D , x = (T - D) / 2
Guess and check (Year 9):
15 + 32 = 47, 16 + 31 = 47, ., 21 + 26 = 47
The meaning of letters in algebra 4.25

Wylie (June Year 11)

Algebraic solution do same to both sides

x + (x + 5 ) = 47
2 x + 5 = 47
2 x = 42
x = 21
The meaning of letters in algebra 4.25

How has Les used x?

Les begins by writing 5 + x = 47

L: x is what is left out of $47 if you take 5 off it.

I: What might the x be?

L: Say she gets $22 and he gets $27. They are sharing two xs.

I: What are the two xs?

L: Unknownsthey are two different numbers, 22 and 27.

I: So what is this x? (pointing to 5 + x = 47)

L: That was what was left over from $47, so its $42.
The meaning of letters in algebra 4.25

Les refers to x as meaning several different things, he

informally tracks thinking with algebra
Les begins by writing 5 + x = 47

L: x is what is left out of $47 if you take 5 off it.

I: What might the x be?
L: Say she gets $22 and he gets $27. They are sharing two xs.
I: What are the two xs?
L: Unknownsthey are two different numbers, 22 and 27.
I: So what is this x? (pointing to 5 + x = 47)
L: That was what was left over from $47, so its $42.
(3 different meanings for x simultaneously)
The meaning of letters in algebra 4.25

How has Joel used x?

Joel writes x (for Jans amount)

Then writes x + 5 (for Mark )

Then x + 5 = 47

I: Points to x + 5 = 47. What does this say?

J: (its) the amount they both get. The amount that Jan gets.
I just like to keep the three of them, 47 dollars, x and 5
dollars and make something out of them.
The meaning of letters in algebra 4.25
Joel: multiple and shifting referents for x
Joel writes x (for Jans amount)

Then writes x + 5 for Mark

Then x + 5 = 47

I: Points to x + 5 = 47. What does this say?

J: (its) the amount they both get. The amount that Jan gets.
I just like to keep the three of them, 47 dollars, x and 5 dollars
and make something out of them.

x as the amount they both get ($42) and as well as Jans amount
The meaning of letters in algebra 4.25

How has Tim used x?

Tim writes x + 5 for Marks amount
Then writes x = x + 5, saying the x after the equal sign is Jans x

T: (Pointing to first x in x+5 = x) Thats Marks x.

I: And why do we add 5 to it?
T: Because Mark has 5 more dollars than Jan. No, thats not right,
it should be Jans x plus 5 equals Marks x.
I: Could you write an equation to say that Mark and Jan have $47
in total ? You dont have to work out the answer first.
T: x divided by a half equals x (writes x 1/2 = x)
The meaning of letters in algebra 4.25
Tim: uses x as a general label for all unknown quantities.
Tim writes x + 5 for Marks amount
Then writes x = x + 5, saying the x after the equal sign is Jans x

T: (pointing to first x in x+5 = x) Thats Marks x.

I: And why do we add 5 to it?
T: Because Mark has 5 more dollars than Jan. No, thats not right,
it should be Jans x plus 5 equals Marks x.
I: Could you write an equation to say that Mark and Jan have $47
in total ? You dont have to work out the answer first.
T: x divided by a half equals x
(writes x 1/2 = x)
The meaning of letters in algebra 4.25

Can you see what is bothering Leonie?

Leonie writes
(x + 5) + y = 47, and cannot progress beyond this point Why?

Leonie explains that

(x+5) is the money that Mark has

this says it is $5 more than Jans money

y is the money that Jan has

Leonie believes that the equation

Why?
(x+5) + x = 47 is wrong.
The meaning of letters in algebra 4.25

Explanation of Leonies thinking

Leonie knows that the numerical amounts of x and y are the
same, but she uses the separate letters because she believes
Mark and Jan
have physically different money.

For Leonie, x represents the actual money, not the amount

of money.

Another instance of letter as object evident in students

work
long after introductory lessons on algebra.
The meaning of letters in algebra 4.25

Summary

Uncertainties and misconceptions about the meanings of

letters lie behind many difficulties with algebra
writing expressions
formulating equations.

Examine students work closely to identify their difficulties,

and then address them.

Use teaching strategies that emphasise that algebraic letters

stand for numbers, and that there is a specific meaning for a
letter throughout one problem.
The meaning of letters in algebra 4.25

How many letters in my Name?

Let a = the number of letters in my first name.
Let b = the number of letters in my family name.

For Lini Marandri, a = 4, b = 8

Sample equation: a+b
=4+8
= 12
For Thy Vo a = 3, b = 2
Sample equation: a+b
=3+2
=5

.
The meaning of letters in algebra 4.25

Try it at your table:

Make up 3 equations for your name

Try to include the variety of equations which

students might write (correct and incorrect)

Pool your equations and think about what different

equations will reveal about students thinking.
Sample Equations

Probably a Place value confusion is

Some will be identities bracketing error
true for everyone! common with beginners
b (a+1) = 0

Lini Marandri, a=4, b = 8 4+a = b a+a = b ba=84

Thy Vo, a = 3, b = 2 a+b = 5 ab = 1.5 a+a=a 2

Robert Menzies, a=6, b = 7 b-a=1 a-a = b-b b-a+1 = 0

John Curtin, a=4, b=6 ab = 24 2 a + b + a + 1 = 19

 Sample Equations

No need to stay with linear equations

Lini Marandri, a=4, b = 8 4+a = b a+a = b ba=84

Thy Vo, a = 3, b = 2 a+b = 5 ab = 1.5 a+a=a 2

Robert Menzies, a=6, b =

b-a=1 a-a = b-b b-a+1 = 0
7

John Curtin, a=4, b=6 ab = 24 2 a + b + a + 1 = 19

These equations can be easily solved by guess-check, because

there are only a few numbers to try.
The meaning of letters in algebra 4.25

Main ideas: how many letters in my name

Letter stands for number unknown to audience

possibly can be found by audience
Reinforces simple substituting, basic syntax, etc
Students may make harder equation than teacher expects
creativity, diversity
Some are equations and some identities: some equations
can belong to one person, some to more than one person,
and some to everyone
Equation solving by guess-check-improve.
 Assessment

Assessment practices are an integral part of teaching

and learning (PoLT Principle 5)
Teachers are encouraged to use evidence from assessment to
inform planning and teaching.
These Continuum items described in the module are intended
as diagnostic assessment.
Teachers should aim to understand what their students are
trying to say
when they try to write algebra. Teachers can then design
instruction which
makes sense to students and hence changes their thinking
more effectively.
 End of Module 5

This is the last slide of the module

Further questions
studentlearning@edumail.vic.gov.au
Subject field- Teaching Secondary Mathematics