How Students Think When Doing Algebra

Algebra is the gateway to college and careers, yet it functions as the eye of the needle because of low pass rates for the middle school/high school course and students’ struggles to understand. We have forty years of research that discusses the ways students think and their cognitive challenges as they engage with algebra. This book is a response to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics’ (NCTM) call to better link research and practice by capturing what we have learned about students’ algebraic thinking in a way that is usable by teachers as they prepare lessons or reflect on their experiences in the classroom. Through a Fund for the Improvement of Post-Secondary Education (FIPSE) grant, 17 teachers and mathematics educators read through the past 40 years of research on students’ algebraic thinking to capture what might be useful information for teachers to know—over 1000 articles altogether. The resulting five domains addressed in the book (Variables & Expressions, Algebraic Relations, Analysis of Change, Patterns & Functions, and Modeling & Word Problems) are closely tied to CCSS topics. Over time, veteran math teachers develop extensive knowledge of how students engage with algebraic concepts—their misconceptions, ways of thinking, and when and how they are challenged to understand—and use that knowledge to anticipate students’ struggles with particular lessons and plan accordingly. Veteran teachers learn to evaluate whether an incorrect response is a simple error or the symptom of a faulty or naïve understanding of a concept. Novice teachers, on the other hand, lack the experience to anticipate important moments in the learning of their students. They often struggle to make sense of what students say in the classroom and determine whether the response is useful or can further discussion (Leatham, Stockero, Peterson, & Van Zoest 2011; Peterson & Leatham, 2009). The purpose of this book is to accelerate early career teachers’ “experience” with how students think when doing algebra in middle or high school as well as to supplement veteran teachers’ knowledge of content and students. The research that this book is based upon can provide teachers with insight into the nature of a student’s struggles with particular algebraic ideas—to help teachers identify patterns that imply underlying thinking. Our book, How Students Think When Doing Algebra, is not intended to be a “how to” book for teachers. Instead, it is intended to orient new teachers to the ways students think and be a book that teachers at all points in their career continually pull of the shelf when they wonder, “how might my students struggle with this algebraic concept I am about to teach?” The primary audience for this book is early career mathematics teachers who don’t have extensive experience working with students engaged in mathematics. However, the book can also be useful to veteran teachers to supplement their knowledge and is an ideal resource for mathematics educators who are preparing preservice teachers.

First in the Arbor Algebra series. A writing-based, common sense, whimsical & engaging introduction to algebra for middle-grade math students.

College Algebra actually makes sense and is something that you can figure out and understand why it works. This text focuses on a conceptual understanding of the big ideas in algebraic thinking, engaging the student in authentic problem solving and exploring the logical reasoning that underlies the various techniques and procedures in college algebra. An Inquiry-based Approach. Each section starts with a Class Activity to engage students in actually doing mathematics. Doing math is not just calculating or following a procedure. Doing math is figuring things out: investigating, making and testing conjectures, making arguments, and communicating your reasoning to others. The class activities are designed to highlight big algebraic ideas and spark a discussion of algebraic habits of mind, as well as students' alternate conceptions that lead to common algebra mistakes. Students are asked to analyze solutions, explore representations, explain why valid methods for simplifying expressions or solving equations work, and explain why invalid methods do not work. This book is intended to be read. Often math textbooks do not end up being read, but instead are used merely as a reference for their step-by-step procedures. Each section of this text has a "Read and Study" section that discusses the mathematics raised by the Class Activity and focuses on the mathematical reasoning and proof needed to nurture longer-lasting understanding of the content. This is meant to be read slowly and carefully, with pencil in hand. We pose questions that you should think about and answer before reading on. When we do work out an example, we do so to discuss the big ideas and illustrate our reasoning, not with the intention of providing you with a model to copy. Exercises vs. Problems. In the homework, we distinguish between "exercises" and "problems." Exercises are more routine, intended to give you more practice thinking about the big concepts. In contrast, the "problems" are intended to be problematic, to take time to explore, develop and make connections, and often to extend your reasoning to develop new ideas. We do not include "answers" to these homework exercises and problems. Why struggle and persevere to figure something out and understand it when you can just look it up? Mathematics is not about getting the right answer; it's about figuring things out. It's about logical reasoning and being able to justify that what you claim is true. This doesn't mean that you are on your own. We will do our best in the Read and Study sections to discuss the big ideas, offer explanations, and show you some good examples of problem solving and making mathematical arguments. This text addresses the topics of a standard course in College Algebra, with the following sections: 1. Introduction to Algebra 2. Algebra as Generalized Arithmetic 3. Graphs of Equations and Relations 5. Algebraic Expressions and the Order of Operations 6. Defining and Interpreting Symbols 7. The Laws of Algebra 8. The Distributive Law 9. Justifying Properties 10. Cancellation Facts and Myths 11. Exponents 12. Roots of Numbers 13. Irrational and Imaginary Numbers 14. Testing and Justifying Simplifications 15. Types of Equations 16. Properties of Equality and Solving Equations 17. Techniques for Solving Equations 18. Inverse Functions 19. Finding Inverse Function Formulas 20. The Distance Formula 21. Finding Equations for Graphs 22. Function Forms 23. Area Models for Quadratic Expressions 24. Quadratic Forms 25. Transformations of Functions 26. The Fundamental Theorem of Algebra 27. Rational Functions 28. Exponential and Logarithm Functions 29. The Natural Exponent Base 30. Solving Equations Review

The most practical, complete, and accessible guide for understanding algebra If you want to make sense of algebra, check out Practical Algebra: A Self-Teaching Guide. Written by two experienced classroom teachers, this Third Edition is completely revised to align with the Common Core Algebra I math standards used in many states. You’ll get an overview of solving linear and quadratic equations, using ratios and proportions, decoding word problems, graphing and interpreting functions, modeling the real world with statistics, and other concepts found in today’s algebra courses. This book also contains a brief review of pre-algebra topics, including arithmetic and fractions. It has concrete strategies that help diverse students to succeed, such as: over 500 images and tables that illustrate important concepts over 200 model examples with complete solutions almost 1,500 exercises with answers so you can monitor your progress Practical Algebra emphasizes making connections to what you already know and what you’ll learn in the future. You’ll learn to see algebra as a logical and consistent system of ideas and see how it connects to other mathematical topics. This book makes math more accessible by treating it as a language. It has tips for pronouncing and using mathematical notation, a glossary of commonly used terms in algebra, and a glossary of symbols. Along the way, you’ll discover how different cultures around the world over thousands of years developed many of the mathematical ideas we use today. Since students nowadays can use a variety of tools to handle complex modeling tasks, this book contains technology tips that apply no matter what device you’re using. It also describes strategies for avoiding common mistakes that students make. By working through Practical Algebra, you’ll learn straightforward techniques for solving problems, and understand why these techniques work so you’ll retain what you’ve learned. You (or your students) will come away with better scores on algebra tests and a greater confidence in your ability to do math.

College Algebra actually makes sense and is something that you can figure out and understand why it works. This text focuses on a conceptual understanding of the big ideas in algebraic thinking, engaging the student in authentic problem solving and exploring the logical reasoning that underlies the various techniques and procedures in college algebra. An Inquiry-based Approach. Each section starts with a Class Activity to engage students in actually doing mathematics. Doing math is not just calculating or following a procedure. Doing math is figuring things out: investigating, making and testing conjectures, making arguments, and communicating your reasoning to others. The class activities are designed to highlight big algebraic ideas and spark a discussion of algebraic habits of mind, as well as students' alternate conceptions that lead to common algebra mistakes. Students are asked to analyze solutions, explore representations, explain why valid methods for simplifying expressions or solving equations work, and explain why invalid methods do not work. This book is intended to be read. Often math textbooks do not end up being read, but instead are used merely as a reference for their step-by-step procedures. Each section of this text has a "Read and Study" section that discusses the mathematics raised by the Class Activity and focuses on the mathematical reasoning and proof needed to nurture longer-lasting understanding of the content. This is meant to be read slowly and carefully, with pencil in hand. We pose questions that you should think about and answer before reading on. When we do work out an example, we do so to discuss the big ideas and illustrate our reasoning, not with the intention of providing you with a model to copy. Exercises vs. Problems. In the homework, we distinguish between "exercises" and "problems." Exercises are more routine, intended to give you more practice thinking about the big concepts. In contrast, the "problems" are intended to be problematic, to take time to explore, develop and make connections, and often to extend your reasoning to develop new ideas. We do not include "answers" to these homework exercises and problems. Why struggle and persevere to figure something out and understand it when you can just look it up? Mathematics is not about getting the right answer; it's about figuring things out. It's about logical reasoning and being able to justify that what you claim is true. This doesn't mean that you are on your own. We will do our best in the Read and Study sections to discuss the big ideas, offer explanations, and show you some good examples of problem solving and making mathematical arguments. This text addresses the topics of a standard course in College Algebra, with the following sections: 1.Features of Algebraic Thinking 2. Algebraic Symbols 3. Sequences of Operations 4. Properties of Operations 5. The Distributive Law 6. Additive and Multiplicative Inverses 7. Using Inverses 8. Exponents 9. Roots of Numbers 10. Irrational and Imaginary Numbers 11. Testing and Justifying Simplifications 12. Types of Equations 13. Properties of Equality and Solving Equations 14. Techniques for Solving Equations 15. The Distance Formula 16. Finding Equations for Graphs 17. Ellipses 18. Function Defintions 19. Functional Thinking 20. Function Forms 21. Linear Function Forms 22. Quadratic Expressions 23. Quadratic Functions 24. Transformations of Functions 25. Polynomials 26. Rational Functions 27. Exponential and Logarithm Functions 28. The Natural Exponent Base 29. Inverse Functions 30. Finding Inverse Function Formulas 31. Solving Equations Review

A hilarious reeducation in mathematics-full of joy, jokes, and stick figures-that sheds light on the countless practical and wonderful ways that math structures and shapes our world. In Math With Bad Drawings, Ben Orlin reveals to us what math actually is; its myriad uses, its strange symbols, and the wild leaps of logic and faith that define the usually impenetrable work of the mathematician. Truth and knowledge come in multiple forms: colorful drawings, encouraging jokes, and the stories and insights of an empathetic teacher who believes that math should belong to everyone. Orlin shows us how to think like a mathematician by teaching us a brand-new game of tic-tac-toe, how to understand an economic crises by rolling a pair of dice, and the mathematical headache that ensues when attempting to build a spherical Death Star. Every discussion in the book is illustrated with Orlin's trademark "bad drawings," which convey his message and insights with perfect pitch and clarity. With 24 chapters covering topics from the electoral college to human genetics to the reasons not to trust statistics, Math with Bad Drawings is a life-changing book for the math-estranged and math-enamored alike.

Focusing on an approach of solving rigorous problems and learning how to prove, this volume is concentrated on two specific content themes, elementary number theory and algebraic polynomials. The benefit to readers who are moving from calculus to more abstract mathematics is to acquire the ability to understand proofs through use of the book and the multitude of proofs and problems that will be covered throughout. This book is meant to be a transitional precursor to more complex topics in analysis, advanced number theory, and abstract algebra. To achieve the goal of conceptual understanding, a large number of problems and examples will be interspersed through every chapter. The problems are always presented in a multi-step and often very challenging, requiring the reader to think about proofs, counter-examples, and conjectures. Beyond the undergraduate mathematics student audience, the text can also offer a rigorous treatment of mathematics content (numbers and algebra) for high-achieving high school students. Furthermore, prospective teachers will add to the breadth of the audience as math education majors, will understand more thoroughly methods of proof, and will add to the depth of their mathematical knowledge. In the past, PNA has been taught in a "problem solving in middle school” course (twice), to a quite advanced high school students course (three semesters), and three times as a secondary resource for a course for future high school teachers. PNA is suitable for secondary math teachers who look for material to encourage and motivate more high achieving students.

There are certain mistakes that students frequently make while learning algebra. This workbook clearly explains these mistakes so students can avoid them. Examples then illustrate the correct way of working an algebra problem, and practice problems are provided. Puzzles and games based on scientific formulas and interesting facts challenge students to think creatively. Self-checking exercises motivate students to finish each page while acquiring valuable algebraic skills.

Stop algebra from being a mathematical gatekeeper. With rich math tasks, all students can succeed. Every teacher strives to make instruction effective and interesting, yet traditional methods of teaching algebra are not working for many students! That’s a problem. But the answer isn’t to supplement the curriculum with random tasks. Classroom Ready-Rich Math Tasks for Grades 6-12 equips you with a cohesive solution--50+ mathematical tasks that are rich, research-based, standards-aligned, and classroom-tested. The tasks: Are organized into learning progressions that help all students make the leap from arithmetic to algebra Offer students interesting mathematics problems to think about and solve so math is investigative, interactive, and engaging Provide opportunities for you to connect new content to prior knowledge or focus on an underdeveloped concept Engage students in conceptual understanding, procedural practice, and problem solving through critical thinking and application Come with downloadable planning tools, student resource pages, and extension questions Include additional support for students who may be struggling Every learner deserves opportunities to engage in meaningful, rigorous mathematics. And every teacher can develop mathematical thinking and reasoning abilities in students. Part of the bestselling series spanning elementary and middle school, Classroom-Ready Rich Algebra Tasks, Grades 6-12 is a powerful add-on to any core mathematics program at your school.