Arithmetic thinking: Reflect on the order of operation

Anisa Fatwa Sari, Agustin Ernawati

Abstract


Arithmetic operations became a basic understanding before acquiring algebraic thinking. Properties of the operation including its order has important role in solving algebraic expression problem later on. However, research in Indonesia rarely explored prospective teachers’ understanding on it. There was no popular mnemonic used as the common rule for ordering arithmetic operation. This study was a descriptive qualitative research. It involved 30 prospective teachers from mathematics and elementary teacher education program in Surabaya. Their understanding was described based on their responses for two types of problem. It was solving four integer calculations. Their paperwork provided reflection on how the operation was carried out. It was also supported by a questionnaire that measures their comprehension on the order. Typical errors were made when choosing which operation came first. The problems were between addition (A) or subtraction (S) and multiplication (M) or division (D). No confusion other than miscalculation for the case picking AS or MD.

Full Text:

PDF

References


Jupri A, Usdiyana D and Sispiyati R 2019 Designing an algebra learning sequence : the case of operations on algebraic expressions J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 1280 042038

Taff J 2017 Rethinking the order of operations Math. Teach. 111 126–32

Golembo V 2000 Writing a PEMDAS story Math. Teach. Middle Sch. 5 574–9

Dupree K M 2016 Questioning the order of operations Math. Teach. Middle Sch. 22 152–9

Zazkis R and Rouleau A 2018 Order of operations: On convention and met-before acronyms Educ. Stud. Math. 97 143–62

Jeon K 2012 Reflecting on PEMDAS Teach. Child. Math. 18 370–7

Glidden P L 2008 Prospective elementary teachers’ understanding of order of operations Sch. Sci. Math. 108 130–6

Billstein R, Libeskid S and Lott J W 2016 A problem solving approach to mathematics for elementary school teachers (Boston: Pearson)

Miles M B, Huberman A M and Saldana J 2014 Qualitative Data analysis: a methods sourcebook (California: Sage Publication)


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.