Why do students have trouble with algebra ?

Question

I am currently teaching college level calculus, and some of the students are struggling with the algebra.

For example, a student thought that you could cancel out the x in 1/x + x .

Why is algebra so hard for students to grasp ?

Answer 1

You are right.  That "No Child Left Behind" has made it okay for the youth of today to be stupid.  They no longer challenge students like they used to because EVERYONE is supposed to pass.  Well, it doesn't matter. People are still failing because the ones who didn't care before still don't care now.  The only difference now is that the ones who would benefit from the challenge will only come out as "Average" instead of "Gifted" because they were not given the opportunity to use their brain.

Answer 2

It is practice and knowing the theorems of Math. The more mathematical problems a student does, the better they get. But, before doing that, students must learn and memorize the basic math rules. Otherwise, nothing else works.

I am telling you from my own experience.

Ciao

A.R

Answer 3

You understand algebra so well because it is your specialty. Didn't you have any trouble learning anything new when you were in college? Maybe you should present the material in more ways than one.

If your student thinks that 24/2 = 4 then the student should not be taking college level calculus, but instead remedial math.

Answer 4

ALL  the students just forgot over the summer, no biggie. i have a BS in Mechanical Engineering and graduated 2 years ago. i sometimes forget some basic things i thought i would know for ever!

(i do know that 24/2 is not 4 though)

Answer 5

I sometimes think a lot of teachers don't really understand the math - that it's just manipulation of symbols to them.

For instance, one of my friends was in a "math for secondary education" class this last year.  He repeatedly found that many of the other students would make bizarre errors.  I don't want to sound mean, but I truly hope such students don't end up teaching my children.

I've heard too many stories of high school teachers, when they have to introduce the imaginary number i, emphasizing its "imaginary" nature.  I didn't have this type of background holding me back, and even I didn't understand what the use of complex numbers were until I started training for math competitions in high school.

Answer 6

it was hard for me because in middle and in high school we didn't have teachers that cared about us, if we didn't understand it they wouldn't slow down or go back over the problem they said sorry we on a schedule and don't have time to keep going back showing you how to do the problems if you cant get it fail and come back next semester and try it again, maybe then you'll get it.  Frustrated teachers, over worked under paid and had to get us ready for a state test so that's all they cared about what was on the test and nothing else so we were never able to learn properly we jumped around and never did anything in order it was horrible!  We need to save our children i only hope the education system gets better for my children.  I actually learned algebra better after i brought a algebra book(cliff notes) from books a million and taught myself!

Answer 7

Because some people are unable to see the logic behind it.

To me, it is extremely logical, at least most of it. 1/x + x = (1+x²)/x

My old teacher once told me an even worse one. A student had (sin x)/n, cancelled the ns and got six. I was laughing my head off at that one!

Answer 8

You have a good variety of answers but I'll add my two cents.  I am a veteran elementary teacher.  For too long students have been taught computation through  memorization of how to do the traditional algorithm.  Students haven't been made to develop solid number sense.  Go into any elementary classroom and ask,"Why are you borrowing on that problem?"  The answer you get will be something like,"That's how you do it."  In  traditional subtraction algorithm 162 - 85 students say that you can't subtract 2-5.   Students have to unlearn a basis truth that includes negative numbers.  I'm not opposed to teaching traditional methods but ONLY AFTER there is an understanding of the numbers and their value.

Reform curriculums are beginning to put an emphasis on number sense and application of what is learned.  Some teachers struggle with math even at the elementary level because they don't have good number sense.

This may not answer your question but I do think it is part of the basic problem.

Answer 9

Human in general have tendency to gravitate toward the path with least resistance/effort.

Thus when it comes to Math, majority of the population are not used to it's abstract concept without putting significant effort in trying to understand its meanings and how it functions.

Thus, they combine what information they may perceive with their own ideal of how problems like those confront them may be solved.

In your example, the student's logic makes perfect sense to him.  division is the elimination of similar symbols...  many students will have problems similar to this but on a different level.  Our difficulty is to try to mend what's not perfect in a student's logic when approaching and solving problems like these.

good luck