Definition
The learning and teaching of the area of mathematics known as school algebra – and the research base accompanying this branch of mathematics education – has typically involved the secondary school student and has focused on forming and operating on polynomial and rational expressions using properties and the field axioms, as well as representing word problems with algebraic expressions containing variables and unknowns. However, over the past several decades, changes in perspective as to what constitutes school algebra have occurred, in addition to its extension in various forms to the elementary school level. Thus, current definitions of school algebra can differ widely, all the more so because what one takes to be algebra depends on factors that vary across communities (see, e.g., Stacey et al. 2004). Decades ago, Freudenthal (1977) characterized school algebra as including not only the solving of linear and quadratic equations but also algebraic thinking, which includes...
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Kieran, C. (2014). Algebra Teaching and Learning. In: Lerman, S. (eds) Encyclopedia of Mathematics Education. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4978-8_6
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