Algebra word problem difficulties: A case study in Tema Education Metropolis in Ghana

Daniel Kofi Aforklenu; Hamidu Ibrahim Bukari

doi:10.29333/mathsciteacher/13133

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Daniel Kofi Aforklenu ¹ , Hamidu Ibrahim Bukari ² ³ ^*

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¹ Akatsi College of Education, Akatsi, GHANA² Bagabaga College of Education, Tamale, GHANA³ University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA^* Corresponding Author

Abstract

Modern mathematics education used a different approach when dealing with word problems in algebra because of how people perceive mathematics. The teacher can aid students in honing their problem-solving abilities to assist them build mathematical concepts that can be applied in real-world situations. This research is a case study involving junior high school (JHS) pupils in Ghana’s Tema Metropolis. For the study, data collection and analysis used a qualitative methodology. Using a purposive sample technique, data from 12 participants–six JHS mathematics teachers and six students–were gathered. Data were gathered through observation, interviews, and document analysis. The primary finding is that JHS pupils at Tema Education Metropolis are unable to present their own issues as proof of conceptual knowledge of algebra word problems.

Keywords

students’ difficulty
mathematics teachers
algebraic word problem-solving

License

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

Journal of Mathematics and Science Teacher, Volume 3, Issue 1, 2023, Article No: em036

https://doi.org/10.29333/mathsciteacher/13133

Publication date: 30 Mar 2023

Article Views: 846

Article Downloads: 1356

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How to cite this article

APA

Aforklenu, D. K., & Bukari, H. I. (2023). Algebra word problem difficulties: A case study in Tema Education Metropolis in Ghana. Journal of Mathematics and Science Teacher, 3(1), em036. https://doi.org/10.29333/mathsciteacher/13133

Vancouver

Aforklenu DK, Bukari HI. Algebra word problem difficulties: A case study in Tema Education Metropolis in Ghana. Journal of Mathematics and Science Teacher. 2023;3(1):em036. https://doi.org/10.29333/mathsciteacher/13133

AMA

Aforklenu DK, Bukari HI. Algebra word problem difficulties: A case study in Tema Education Metropolis in Ghana. Journal of Mathematics and Science Teacher. 2023;3(1), em036. https://doi.org/10.29333/mathsciteacher/13133

Chicago

Aforklenu, Daniel Kofi, and Hamidu Ibrahim Bukari. "Algebra word problem difficulties: A case study in Tema Education Metropolis in Ghana". Journal of Mathematics and Science Teacher 2023 3 no. 1 (2023): em036. https://doi.org/10.29333/mathsciteacher/13133

Harvard

Aforklenu, D. K., and Bukari, H. I. (2023). Algebra word problem difficulties: A case study in Tema Education Metropolis in Ghana. Journal of Mathematics and Science Teacher, 3(1), em036. https://doi.org/10.29333/mathsciteacher/13133

MLA

Aforklenu, Daniel Kofi et al. "Algebra word problem difficulties: A case study in Tema Education Metropolis in Ghana". Journal of Mathematics and Science Teacher, vol. 3, no. 1, 2023, em036. https://doi.org/10.29333/mathsciteacher/13133