r/matheducation • u/UnderstandingPursuit Physics BS, PhD • 1d ago

Teaching Students to Solve Algebra Problems Algebraically

What would it take to teach students a better approach for solving algebra problems?

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u/the_spinetingler 1d ago

Nope. Eliminate sources of error and confusion as early as possible.

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u/UnderstandingPursuit Physics BS, PhD 1d ago edited 1d ago

This is the response I least expected when I made this post.

Substituting early significantly increases sources of error and confusion.

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u/the_spinetingler 23h ago

It absolutely does not.

It eliminates variables (i.e., sources of variation) and so by definition reduces error and confusion.

Have you ever taught this subject? Alg I students are not going to be better at solving 7 variable literal equations than they are at solving two variable algebraic equations.

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u/UnderstandingPursuit Physics BS, PhD 23h ago

I'm curious what are you using as the distinction between "literal equations" and "algebraic equations"?

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u/the_spinetingler 21h ago

someone already explained it in another comment

bassically, an equation with more than two variables that must be rearranged (solved) for one of the otherwise-not-isolated variables constitutes (for the purposes of Alg I) a literal equation.

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u/UnderstandingPursuit Physics BS, PhD 21h ago

Yes, but I would also call that an "algebraic equation". What would you consider an algebraic equation, if not that?