• School Mathematics
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.603-623
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• 2008

The purpose of this research was to gain a better understanding of the characteristics of students' mathematical representations using additive strategy in ratio and proportion tasks. The additive strategy is the erroneous one used most often among the strategies reported in solving ratio and proportion tasks. It is a problem solving strategy that preserves the difference from one ratio to another. Students' additive strategies were categorized into four parts: subtracting without considering units of quantities, comparing the numbers that represent the whole subtracted from the part and same part, adding the difference, and subtracting the difference. In order to change from additive strategy to multiplicative strategy, the researcher asked to find out the unit quantity and found the characteristics of students' mathematical notations in the following: Firstly, the students made the number which they wanted by multiplying and adding same numbers. Secondly, they represented the mid-points between natural numbers. Thirdly, they related $a{\div}b$ to decimal number, not $\frac{a}{b}$. Fourthly, they were inclined to divide the larger number with the smaller number without understanding the context of the problem. These results are interpreted as showing that lower level of performance in the dividing operation with the notations of fraction hinders the transformation from additive strategy to multiplicative strategy.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.187-213
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• 2024

This study aims to investigate the impact of mathematical journal writing activities on sixth-grade students' mathematics anxiety and the 'writing' aspect of mathematical communication. For this purpose, 27 sixth-grade students participated in 14 sessions of mathematical journal writing activities while learning division with fractions and decimals. Mathematics anxiety was measured using a questionnaire, with pre- and post-test results statistically analyzed. Mathematical communication in the 'writing' domain was quantitatively measured using an analytical framework to track changes in levels. Additionally, 13 students were interviewed to examine the impact of journal writing on mathematics anxiety and mathematical communication in more detail. The study found that among the four main factors of mathematics anxiety, there was a significant reduction in the subject-specific and environmental factors. The average levels of 'expression' and 'explanation' in the 'writing' domain of mathematical communication gradually increased, with specific teacher feedback supporting improvements in students' communication levels. Based on these findings, the study suggests implications for the use and guidance of mathematical journal writing activities in school settings.