Mathematical Writing: the case of equations

This thesis investigates how Danish high school students solve equations and how their teachers give them feedback, and further, how the feedback can help them develop their equation solving skills. The theoretical framework of the study is the Anthropological Theory of Didactics (ATD) the concept, of which, will be the notion of a praxeology. This is used to develop a praxeological reference model of techniques used to solve different kinds of equations. The construction of the model is based on tasks about equations from several exam sheets in Danish high schools. To examine how Danish high school students solve equations, students’ assignments are collected with feedback from their teacher. The students’ solutions are analysed by the praxeological reference model. Two teachers and their corresponding math classes participated. In total, six classes participated: two second-year classes and four first-year classes, with a total of 128 students. The results show which techniques the students used to solve the different kinds of tasks with equations. It is observed that the students used the same techniques as identified in the praxeological reference model. Furthermore, it is observed that the teachers mostly focused on the techniques used rather than technology and theory.