THE INFLUENCE OF THE WRITTEN FORMAT OF AN ARITHMETIC EXPRESSION ON ITS CALCULATION: THE CASE OF MENTAL BRACKETS

Παπαδόπουλος & Ελευθεριάδης (ελληνικά)
Published: Sep 17, 2019
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/enedim.21143
Keywords:
Brackets structure precedence rules.
Ιωάννης Παπαδόπουλος (Ioannis Papadopoulos)
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Ιωάννης Ελευθεριάδης (Ioannis Eleftheriadis)
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Abstract
In this paper the influence of the written format of an arithmetic expression on its calculation (given that this calculation requires the use of brackets) is examined. In particular, grade 5 and grade 6 students were asked to calculate a series of fractional expressions. The findings indicate that the fractional form of the expressions has an impact on the way the students calculate them by imposing a certain way of analyzing these expressions. This impact is obvious in the work of the whole sample. The main feature of this impact is expressed through the student’s inclination to ignore occasionally both the precedence rules and the use of brackets. However, this is id not indicative of a lack of an understanding of these rules and their use. The students seemingly follow an inaccurate mathematical process but in the meanwhile they make use of what we call ‘mental’ brackets aiming to preserve the structure of the initial fractional expression and reach the correct answer.
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Author Biography
Ιωάννης Παπαδόπουλος (Ioannis Papadopoulos), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Assist. Professor
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