Solution Methods on Algebra Problems with Simultaneous Equations,

Abstract

Problem solving approaches often find a path from the givens to the unknown or from the unknown to the givens. This study explores those approaches using written protocols of Navy subjects while solving for the numerical value of an unknown from several knowns and a system of equations. For a subset of the items, solutions require subjects to retain expressions with both literals and numerals. Successful and unsuccessful students were similar in their preference to work backward and to use literals rather than numerals and in the efficacy of their solutions. Students acquired successful solution methods during instruction and used them consistently. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1981
Accession Number
ADA105178

Entities

People

  • Jane Sachar

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Cognition
  • Consistency
  • Corporations
  • Equations
  • Frequency
  • Information Processing
  • Instructions
  • Instructors
  • Judgment
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • Psychology
  • Reasoning
  • Simultaneous Equations
  • Students
  • Thinking

Readers

  • Computer Programming and Software Development.
  • Finite Element Method (FEM) for solving Partial Differential Equations (PDEs)
  • Linear Algebra