Article
Burning the candle at just one end: Using nonproportional examples helps students determine when proportional strategies apply
Publication Date
April 2009
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School
Volume
14
Issue
8
Abstract
In learning proportions students must understand what makes a situation proportional. If all the missing-value problems encountered by middle-school students involve proportional situations, then there is no need for students to check the equivalence of the two ratios in the proportion they set up. The use of non-proportional situations presents a need for students to analyze the problem situation, determine the manner in which quantities co-vary, and identify the relationship that is invariant.
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