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ERIC Number: EJ1339966
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021-Sep
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2087-8885
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Counterexamples: Challenges Faced by Elementary Students When Testing a Conjecture about the Relationship between Perimeter and Area
Widjaja, Wanty; Vale, Colleen
Journal on Mathematics Education, v12 n3 p487-506 Sep 2021
One pedagogical approach to challenge a persistent misconception is to get students to test a conjecture whereby they are confronted with the misconception. A common misconception about a 'direct linear relationship' between area and perimeter is well-documented. In this study, Year 4-6 students were presented with a conjecture that a rectangle with a larger perimeter will always have a larger area. Eighty-two (82)students' written responses from three elementary schools in Victoria, Australia were analyzed. The findings revealed that Year 4-6 students could find multiple examples to support the conjecture but they struggled to find counterexamples to refute the conjecture. The findings underscored the importance of developing elementary school students' capacity to construct counterexamples and recognize that it is sufficient to offer one counterexample in refuting a conjecture about all cases. Implications for teaching practice to support investigating and testing a conjecture are discussed.
Indonesian Mathematical Society. Jl. Padang Selasa 524, Palembang, South Sumatra 30139, Indonesia. Tel: +618-127-106777; Fax: +627-113-20310; Web site: http://jme.ejournal.unsri.ac.id/index.php/jme
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A