Questions tagged [equal-sign]
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8 questions
3 votes
5 answers
699 views
Why do we explicitly state the equality of two things when we know they're equal
Recently my brother in high school and I were talking about some math when he said If we know two things are the same i.e. equal why do we need to state that they're the same? What he was trying to ...
- 465
2 votes
0 answers
107 views
Is there a easy-to-use program that can make a GIF / Video in which an equation is transformed?
Is there a easy-to-use program that can make a GIF / Video in which an equation is transformed? Like this, which was make (via PPT > Transition > Morph), but ...
- 137
7 votes
1 answer
297 views
How to convince a high school student that the $=$ symbol denotes identity?
In French language, arithmetic statements are often read, at the elementary school level, as , say, " deux et deux font quatre" , i.e. something like " two and two make four". Out ...
- 231
9 votes
1 answer
334 views
Equality as "makes" vs equality as "equals"
A problem I often encounter while introducing students to equations is that of changing the conceptual image of the equation symbol $=$ from "results to" to "is equal to". To be more precise: In the ...
- 1,120
2 votes
3 answers
757 views
Harnessing misuse of equals sign
Students often misuse the equals sign to indicate "I've done this operation" rather than the proper use indicating numerical equivalence. Eg. Tax is paid using the rule: \$3 572 plus 32.5c per \$1 ...
- 1,145
9 votes
8 answers
1k views
Definition of the term, equation
What is the definition of an equation (as a mathematical terminology)? I have been using this term, equation, for a long time. I don't even remember when and where I have learned this term (Possibly, ...
- 131
3 votes
3 answers
383 views
The meaning of equal sign in unit conversion
Recently, I read a paper about student's understanding of fraction. Most students mentioned in the paper had given $5/8$ as their answer to the following question: ...
- 4,488
82 votes
6 answers
9k views
Issues with "equals", where does this come from and how do I combat it?
An issue I see with students a lot is abuse of the equals sign. For example, one problem asked "what is the degree of the polynomial: $\text{polynomial}$?", and I got answers like "$\text{polynomial}=...
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