The Manipulation of Algebraic Expressions: Deepening of a Widespread Difficulties and New Characterizations

Federica Ferretti

doi:10.29333/iejme/5884

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Federica Ferretti ¹ ^*

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¹ Faculty of Education, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, ITALY^* Corresponding Author

Abstract

The learning of algebra represents a difficulty within the mathematics learning process. Precisely because of their epistemological and ontological nature, semiotics provides a good key to understanding the main difficulties that hinder the learning of algebraic objects. The answers to a large scale assessments task that requires a treatment in the sense of Duval of sizeable sample of upper secondary school student is analysed. Statistical analysis allows the nationwide data to be considered according to students’ ability levels. The study confirms and quantifies the distance between personal meaning and the cultural meaning attributed to algebraic objects. The difficulties of the manipulation of algebraic expressions is deepened and characterized.

Keywords

algebra
semiotics
large-scale assessments

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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

INT ELECT J MATH ED, 2020, Volume 15, Issue 1, Article No: em0548

https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/5884

Publication date: 21 Aug 2019

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How to cite this article

APA

Ferretti, F. (2020). The Manipulation of Algebraic Expressions: Deepening of a Widespread Difficulties and New Characterizations. International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, 15(1), em0548. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/5884

Vancouver

Ferretti F. The Manipulation of Algebraic Expressions: Deepening of a Widespread Difficulties and New Characterizations. INT ELECT J MATH ED. 2020;15(1):em0548. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/5884

AMA

Ferretti F. The Manipulation of Algebraic Expressions: Deepening of a Widespread Difficulties and New Characterizations. INT ELECT J MATH ED. 2020;15(1), em0548. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/5884

Chicago

Ferretti, Federica. "The Manipulation of Algebraic Expressions: Deepening of a Widespread Difficulties and New Characterizations". International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education 2020 15 no. 1 (2020): em0548. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/5884

Harvard

Ferretti, F. (2020). The Manipulation of Algebraic Expressions: Deepening of a Widespread Difficulties and New Characterizations. International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, 15(1), em0548. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/5884

MLA

Ferretti, Federica "The Manipulation of Algebraic Expressions: Deepening of a Widespread Difficulties and New Characterizations". International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, vol. 15, no. 1, 2020, em0548. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/5884