Amber Powell, a graduate student and instructor in the Mathematical Sciences department, presented her master’s thesis results at the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) regional conference held in Baltimore on Oct. 18.
In her session, “Student Misconceptions about Solving Multi-step Linear Equations,” Powell reported the findings of her study in which students completed a 15-problem test of different types of linear equations appropriate for eighth-grade students according to state and national standards. Use of calculators was not permitted. The results indicated that problems containing negative numbers and terms moved to the opposite side of the equal sign were most likely to be incorrect.
Powell’s research was part of the requirements for graduation from SUNY Fredonia’s Master’s of Science degree in Mathematics Education. Mathematics educators from many parts of the United States and Canada attended the session.
