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Presentation
Probing whole number dominance with fractions
Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA) (2003)
  • Max Stephens, University of Melbourne
  • Catherine Pearn
Abstract
Children's whole number schemes can interfere with their efforts to learn fractions. To what extent do these schemes persist for secondary school students? This paper reports on the development and piloting of an interview designed to identify and probe inappropriate whole number strategies for working with fractions among secondary students. The interview showed that these strategies are still prevalent among Year 8 students. Among others who use appropriate multiplicative strategies the interview showed that some of these are still not confident in challenging instances of inappropriate whole number thinking. [Author abstract]
Keywords
  • Concept formation,
  • Fractions,
  • Interviews,
  • Misconceptions,
  • Number concepts,
  • Mathematics tests,
  • Secondary school students,
  • Whole numbers,
  • Primary secondary education
Publication Date
July, 2003
Citation Information
Max Stephens and Catherine Pearn. "Probing whole number dominance with fractions" Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA) (2003)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/catherine_pearn/10/