Abstract: The study entitled “Analysis of Errors in Solving Mathematical Problems Involving Fractions among Grade 7 Students of Zamboanga National High School West used a descriptive qualitative research method. It identified the causes of errors prevalent among Grade 7 students of Zamboanga City High School-West in solving mathematical problems involving fractions. It also identified students’ error types and patterns, as well as corrective instructions/strategies to address the errors. Of the total population of 1,997, only 333 Grade 7 students of Zamboanga National High School-West were chosen through random sampling as participants for the diagnostic examination. Stage I of the study was a diagnostic test that determined the error types and patterns committed by the participants in solving mathematical problems involving fractions. In stage 2, 8 of the 333 participants in the diagnostic examination, were purposively chosen for the interview intended to probe into the causes of errors. Newman’s Error Analysis (NEA) Techniques was used to determine the participants’ prevalent error types/patterns. The findings revealed that the participants’ most prevalent error was transformation error which totalled 1,417 or 50.6 percent of the total errors. This was followed by procedural or basic facts error which totalled 941 or 33.6 percent. It was also found out that the underlying causes of errors committed are the following: conceptions and preconceptions to the present Mathematics classroom that was not corrected previously, teacher’s pedagogical skills or teacher competence, lapses in concentration or hasty reasoning, lack of long term learning, poor exposure on such kind of word problems. Based on the findings, this study proposed corrective instructions/strategies which may be adopted by mathematics teachers in addressing learning problems related to the prevalent errors identified.
Keywords: corrective measures, causes of error, error patterns, error types, fractions.
Title: ANALYSIS OF ERRORS IN SOLVING MATHEMATICAL PROBLEMS INVOLVING FRACTIONS
Author: LILIA B. BAYOS
International Journal of Mathematics and Physical Sciences Research
ISSN 2348-5736 (Online)
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