NotesFAQContact Us
Collection
Advanced
Search Tips
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
Direct linkDirect link
ERIC Number: EJ879340
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-Feb
Pages: 8
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0025-5769
EISSN: N/A
Common Errors in Counting Problems
Annin, Scott A.; Lai, Kevin S.
Mathematics Teacher, v103 n6 p402-409 Feb 2010
Mathematics teachers are often asked, "What is the most difficult topic for you to teach?" Their answer is teaching students to count. The concepts can be challenging and slippery to apply in problems. Many times, no rigid procedures or formulas can be used to solve the problems directly, and students simply do not know where or how to approach them. Further, subtle differences in how questions are posed can necessitate entirely different solution techniques. This article will draw attention to some errors that students fall victim to when solving counting problems, examine the differences between correct solutions and solutions often given by misdirected students, and provide some problems to encourage practice in this challenging area. (Contains 6 figures.)
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. 1906 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191-1502. Tel: 800-235-7566; Tel: 703-620-3702; Fax: 703-476-2970; e-mail: orders@nctm.org; Web site: http://www.nctm.org/publications/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A