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Constructivism, Factoring, and Beliefs
Author(s) -
Rauff James V.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
school science and mathematics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.135
H-Index - 2
eISSN - 1949-8594
pISSN - 0036-6803
DOI - 10.1111/j.1949-8594.1994.tb15709.x
Subject(s) - factoring , remedial education , constructivism (international relations) , mathematics education , algebra over a field , vocabulary , semantics (computer science) , computer science , mathematics , arithmetic , pure mathematics , programming language , linguistics , philosophy , international relations , finance , politics , political science , law , economics
The errors made by remedial intermediate algebra students in factoring polynomials were analyzed in the light of student definitions of factoring. Certain belief sets about factoring are found to logically entail many of the errors made. The vocabulary of epistemic semantics is used to describe how beliefs are changed. It is suggested that belief‐based teaching can be successful in teaching factoring.