Math Forum Discussions

Eileen Abrahamson

Posts: 85
Registered: 12/6/04

Re: Should graphs be taught in School Algebra?
Posted: Apr 11, 1996 8:03 AM

Plain Text

- Snipped from Karen Dee Michalowicz -
>According to Rex Boggs:
>>
>> No, according to H.S. Hall, in his preface to A School Algebra. I quote,
>>
>> "Graphs have now been on their trial for several years, and opinions are
>> still divided as to what part they should play in a first course in Algebra.
>> BTW, this book was published in 1910!
>
I collect old math texts. Algebras of the l9th and early
>20 century didn't even mention graphing.
>
>If H.S. Hall had a graphing calculator as a tool in Algebra 1,
>I doubt that he would have said what he did.

- Snipped from Eileen Abrahamson - Algebraic Thinking in Elem.
>After these relationships have been found I discuss with the students how they
>>have created generalizations about all the Orange and Yellow rods. They have
>>generalized that "if" 1/2 O = Y relationship exists in one instance with the
>>rods "then" that same relationship must exist with all of the yellow and
>orange >rods in the set of Cuisenaire Rods.

>We check to see if in fact this "generalization" is true by randomly choosing
>>yellow and orange rods and checking. Once we have determined that this
>>relationship is in fact "true for all rods in the set of Cuisenairre Rods",
>>then we can use this statement to predict other relationships that exist.

>For example if 1/2 O=Y and (I don't have the rods here with me, so I am just
>>going to pick some colors for the sake of the example) 1/2 Y= P(ink) then
>what >equation would you write to describe the relationship between O and P?
>Using >what you know about the relationships between O and P if you had 6 P's
>how many >O's would that be? Etc.

Using this technique - graphing the relationships would be quite simple and
make lots of sense to fourth grade students:-)

Eileen:-)

Eileen Abrahamson
e-mail: 0191enel@informns.k12.mn.us
Fourth Grade
Edw Neill Elementary
Burnsville, MN 55337