This research addresses the issue of how to support students' representational fluency--the ability to create, move within, translate across, and derive meaning from external representations of mathematical ideas. The context of solving linear equations in a combined computer algebra system (CAS) and paper-and-pencil classroom environment is…

Middle-school students are expected to understand key components of graphs, such as slope and y-intercept. However, constructing graphs is a skill that has received relatively little research attention. This study examined students' construction of graphs of linear functions, focusing specifically on the relative difficulties of graphing slope and…

A graphical representation is used to construct a line one centimetre in length. (MP)

Shows how five points determine the formula of a conic section and uses the determinant as a computational device to find the coefficients in the formula. Uses symbolic, numerical, and graphical techniques. (Author/MKR)

An alternative application of logarithms in the high school algebra curriculum that is not undermined by the existence and widespread availability of calculators is presented. The importance and use of linear relationships are underscored in the proposed lessons. (MP)

Introduces a strategy for writing equations of graphs to help students and teachers build strong conceptual connections between the symbolic representations of algebra and the spatial representations of geometry. (Author/MKR)

Graphical solutions are illustrated for several algebra problems including finding roots of a quadratic equation, solving mixture and motion word problems, factoring the difference of two squares, and constructing the square root of a positive number. (MN)

Rational points in the plane were defined as points having both coordinated rational. Students solved several problems linking rational points with lines, circles, and other geometric figures. (SD)

Explores whether the differences in use of terminology were related to respective fields or to idiosyncratic characteristics of experience and education. Reports differences among college teachers, high school teachers, and college students from a 16-item survey on algebraic and graphing terminology used in mathematics and science. (YP)

Illustrated is the problem of solving equations and some different strategies students might employ when using available technology. Gives illustrations for: exact solutions, approximate solutions, and approximate solutions which are graphically generated. (RT)

Integrates mathematics and science by investigating the scientific application of the Polynomial Difference Theorem using data points from an experiment. Utilizes the different capabilities of the graphing calculator to investigate a problem whose solution is a second degree equation and makes connections between the mathematical concepts involved…