Algebraic Transformations™

Part of the Algebra Insight Suite

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Description

Algebra Insight: Algebraic Transformations™ teaches students to see patterns and relationships in algebraic equations; more specifically, it enables learners to be able to quickly recognize equivalent expressions and legal algebraic transformations.

The basic rules of algebra do not seem too difficult: whatever you do to one side of the equation you must do to the other. In this case, the problem is not so much a lack of understanding of the procedure, but instead an inability to see what these operations are actually doing and how they are altering the structure of the underlying equation. Simply knowing the rule is not enough; more emphasis must be put into developing fluency and familiarity in recognizing and applying these rules. Algebra Insight: Algebraic Transformations™ aims to remedy this often overlooked aspect of algebra learning.

A majority of the learning session is devoted to structure mapping problems. Students are presented with an equation and are asked to identify from a set of four choices an equivalent form of that equation. The task may seem difficult and strange to students at first since they are not asked to actually solve anything. However, over time these activities help to invoke students' pattern recognition skills in noticing key structural features of equations and legal transformations while at the same time filtering out characteristics of illegal operations.

The learning session is also interspersed with more conventional solve problems in which students must decide what operation to perform in order to change an equation from one state to another. Together, these questions provide a unique and powerful learning experience that result in long-lasting benefits.

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System Requirements

• Internet access
• Latest version of any modern browser
• Desktop computer (MAC or PC) or Android tablet