Student Difficulties and Misconceptions in Solving Simple Linear Equations

Ayhan Kürşat Erbaş, Bülent Çetinkaya, Yaşar Ersoy

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate student difficulties, common errors and misconceptions in solving simple linear algebraic equations within a group of students (n = 217) from four different schools. The results suggest that the students in lower achievement groups have conceptual problems and mal-rules, some of which might be considered as misconceptions. In general, students in the middle and higher achievement levels did arithmetical and computational errors.

Keywords

Teaching and learning of algebra, linear equations, learning difficulties, mal-rules, common errors, misconceptions

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