Grade 9 learners’ understanding of fraction concepts: Equality of fractions, numerator and denominator
Our research with Grade 9 learners at a school in Soweto was conducted to explore learners’ understanding of fundamental fraction concepts used in applications required at that level of schooling. The study was based on the theory of constructivism in a bid to understand whether learners’ transition...
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oai:doaj.org-article:557610bae85849d99fa0cb5d3e77db302021-11-24T07:44:02ZGrade 9 learners’ understanding of fraction concepts: Equality of fractions, numerator and denominator1012-23462223-789510.4102/pythagoras.v42i1.602https://doaj.org/article/557610bae85849d99fa0cb5d3e77db302021-10-01T00:00:00Zhttps://pythagoras.org.za/index.php/pythagoras/article/view/602https://doaj.org/toc/1012-2346https://doaj.org/toc/2223-7895Our research with Grade 9 learners at a school in Soweto was conducted to explore learners’ understanding of fundamental fraction concepts used in applications required at that level of schooling. The study was based on the theory of constructivism in a bid to understand whether learners’ transition from whole numbers to rational numbers enabled them to deal with the more complex concept of fractions. A qualitative case study approach was followed. A test was administered to 40 learners. Based on their written responses, eight learners were purposefully selected for an interview. The findings revealed that learners’ definitions of fraction were neither complete nor precise. Particularly pertinent were challenges related to the concept of equivalent fractions that include fraction elements, namely the numerator and denominator in the phase of rational number. These gaps in understanding may have originated in the early stages of schooling when learners first conceptualised fractions during the late concrete learning phase. For this reason, we suggest a developmental intervention using physical manipulatives to promote understanding of fractions before inductively guiding learners to construct algorithms and transition to the more abstract applications of fractions required in Grade 9.Methuseli MoyoFrance M. MachabaAOSISarticlefractionequalitynumeratordenominatormisconceptionsmanipulativesMathematicsQA1-939ENPythagoras, Vol 42, Iss 1, Pp e1-e13 (2021) |
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fraction equality numerator denominator misconceptions manipulatives Mathematics QA1-939 |
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fraction equality numerator denominator misconceptions manipulatives Mathematics QA1-939 Methuseli Moyo France M. Machaba Grade 9 learners’ understanding of fraction concepts: Equality of fractions, numerator and denominator |
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Our research with Grade 9 learners at a school in Soweto was conducted to explore learners’ understanding of fundamental fraction concepts used in applications required at that level of schooling. The study was based on the theory of constructivism in a bid to understand whether learners’ transition from whole numbers to rational numbers enabled them to deal with the more complex concept of fractions. A qualitative case study approach was followed. A test was administered to 40 learners. Based on their written responses, eight learners were purposefully selected for an interview. The findings revealed that learners’ definitions of fraction were neither complete nor precise. Particularly pertinent were challenges related to the concept of equivalent fractions that include fraction elements, namely the numerator and denominator in the phase of rational number. These gaps in understanding may have originated in the early stages of schooling when learners first conceptualised fractions during the late concrete learning phase. For this reason, we suggest a developmental intervention using physical manipulatives to promote understanding of fractions before inductively guiding learners to construct algorithms and transition to the more abstract applications of fractions required in Grade 9. |
| format |
article |
| author |
Methuseli Moyo France M. Machaba |
| author_facet |
Methuseli Moyo France M. Machaba |
| author_sort |
Methuseli Moyo |
| title |
Grade 9 learners’ understanding of fraction concepts: Equality of fractions, numerator and denominator |
| title_short |
Grade 9 learners’ understanding of fraction concepts: Equality of fractions, numerator and denominator |
| title_full |
Grade 9 learners’ understanding of fraction concepts: Equality of fractions, numerator and denominator |
| title_fullStr |
Grade 9 learners’ understanding of fraction concepts: Equality of fractions, numerator and denominator |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Grade 9 learners’ understanding of fraction concepts: Equality of fractions, numerator and denominator |
| title_sort |
grade 9 learners’ understanding of fraction concepts: equality of fractions, numerator and denominator |
| publisher |
AOSIS |
| publishDate |
2021 |
| url |
https://doaj.org/article/557610bae85849d99fa0cb5d3e77db30 |
| work_keys_str_mv |
AT methuselimoyo grade9learnersunderstandingoffractionconceptsequalityoffractionsnumeratoranddenominator AT francemmachaba grade9learnersunderstandingoffractionconceptsequalityoffractionsnumeratoranddenominator |
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