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1998 New Zealand Mathematics Colloquium
July 6-9, 1998
Victoria University of Wellington
Wellington, New Zealand

Organizers
Peter Donelan, Chris Atkin, John Harper, Philip Rhodes-Robinson, Jim Neyland, Geoff Whittle, Steve White, Vladimir Pestov, Tom Crosby

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Versatile Understanding of Linear Equations
by
Mike Thomas
University of Auckland

Many of the objects of mathematics arise as the encapsulation of processes. For example, in algebra, x + 2 is the object which generalises the process of adding two to an unknown number. Many students in secondary school find it difficult to move from a process-oriented view of mathematics to an object-based perspective. I will give some examples of how this affects students' ability to solve linear equations and describe some preliminary research using a computer environment which attempts to improve this situation by promoting a versatile view of expressions and equations.

Date received: June 24, 1998

Copyright © 1998 by the author(s). The author(s) of this document and the organizers of the conference have granted their consent to include this abstract in Atlas Conferences Inc. Document # cabd-68.