In the Singapore primary school Mathematics curriculum, students are taught the model method that uses bar diagrams to visualize the problem structure in a given word problem. When these students progress to secondary school, they learn the algebraic way of solving word problems. Studies (e.g. Ng et al.) have shown that poor bridging of students…

The effects of using homework guides, and homework logs on students' abilities to solve word problems involving basic addition and subtraction facts were studied. Students received one of three versions of addition and subtraction timed tests once per week--every Thursday--that focused on measuring automaticity of basic addition and subtraction…

This study examined average-, high- and top-performing US fourth graders' rational number problem solving and their understanding of rational number representations. In phase one, all students completed a written test designed to tap their skills for multiplication, division and rational number word-problem solving. In phase two, a subset of…

The problem solving performance of 24 learning disabled and 24 non-disabled second and fourth grade children was investigated using embedded irrelevant linguistic and numerical information within addition word problems. Irrelevant numerical information but not irrelevant linguistic information affected performance of all groups; however, LD…

Textbook organization assumes that students can naturally make the jump from practicing a particular operation to applying it. But for students to apply their computational abilities, they need a variety of experiences that books alone cannot provide. Ways of providing these experiences are suggested. (MT)

Presents suggestions for improving textbook and classroom word problems: (1) Avoid composing exercises that inspire unanswerable questions, (2) State problems in terms of the future instead of the past, and (3) Find motivation for solving a problem beyond idle curiosity; some advantage should be gained from solving the problem. (MKR)

Explores deaf students' difficulty in reading and understanding mathematics word problems, pointing out word problems' syntax and form differences from traditional reading materials. (18 references) (CB)

Investigates possible factors influencing the difficulty of algebra word problems encountered by second-year algebra students. Finds that the length of the overall problem is not as significant in algebra word problems as in the arithmetic word problems; however, the length of the longest sentence or the average sentence length may be significant.…

Adresses the question of how children should be educated to help them develop into competent, productive members of modern society. Provides examples of word problems in mathematics education. (ASK)

This article describes a method of solution that Ramanujan may have used in solving the following puzzle: The number of a house is both the sum of the house numbers below it on the street and the sum of those above it. (The houses on a street are numbered consecutively, starting with 1.)

We present and discuss three examples of misapplication of the notion of conditional probability. In each example, we present the problem along with a published and/or well-known incorrect--but seemingly plausible--solution. We then give a careful treatment of the correct solution, in large part to show how careful application of basic probability…

Results from nine experiments were analyzed to evaluate the relationship between relative problem completion rates (RPCR) and judgments of time involving mathematics assignments. For each experiment, control assignments contained only target mathematics computation or word problems. Matched experimental assignments contained similar target…

The advent of the World Wide Web is affecting many aspects of education, with claims that its use can transform the way students learn and are taught. WebQuest, the name given to an inquiry-oriented activity in which most or all of the information used by learners is drawn from the Web, is being suggested as a means of enhancing learning. This…

Much of the difficulty that students encounter in the transition from arithmetic to algebra stems from their early learning and understanding of arithmetic. Too often, students learn about the whole number system and the operations that govern that system as a set of procedures to solve addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems.…

This article offers an engaging application that adds meaning to the binomial theorem. (Contains 8 figures.)