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Teaching Mathematics and Computer Science

Vol. 23 No. 1 (2025)
Articles

Solving word problems - a crucial step in lower secondary school education

Published:
2025-06-03
DOI Linkhttps://doi.org/10.5485/TMCS.2025.14657
Author
Zsolt Fülöp
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Keywords
Regula Falsi method functional approach word problems arithmetic methods algebraic thinking
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Copyright (c) 2025 Zsolt Fülöp

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How To Cite
Selected Style: APA
Fülöp, Z. (2025). Solving word problems - a crucial step in lower secondary school education. Teaching Mathematics and Computer Science, 23(1), 47-68. https://doi.org/10.5485/TMCS.2025.14657
Abstract

Algebra is considered one of the most important parts of Mathematics teaching and learning, because it lays the foundations of abstract thinking as well as reasoning abilities among the lower secondary school pupils who have just transited from the world of numbers and computations to the area of equalities, signs, symbols and letters. The present article focuses on the fact that how the transition from arithmetic to algebra can be made more smooth. We have concentrated our experiments towards the approach of algebraic reasoning and its utilities in filling the gap between arithmetic and beginning algebra in lower secondary school education.We also underline the importance of another approach in overcoming the challenges in the transition from arithmetic to algebra, to enhance and make algebraic learning more effective, with special considerations to word problem-solving processes. In our opinion, we have to go through three phases in the introducing of algebra in Grade 7 Mathematics education: Regula Falsi method (based only on numerical calculations); functional approach to algebra (which combines the numerical computation with letter-symbolic manipulation); and writing equations to word problems. The conclusions of the present article would be helpful to Mathematics teachers for applying themselves to develop the pupils’ interest in word problem-solving processes during algebra teaching classroom activities.

Subject Classification: 97B10, 97C30, 97C50, 97D10, 97D40

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