Abstract

ZORRILLA, Cristina; IVARS, Pedro  and  FERNANDEZ, Ceneida. Realistic Division Problems with a Remainder: A Study of Strategies in Elementary Education. RMIE [online]. 2021, vol.26, n.91, pp.1313-1339.  Epub Dec 13, 2021. ISSN 1405-6666.

The objective of this study is to analyze how Spanish students in the third to the sixth grades (ages eight to twelve) solve realistic problems, in particular, quotative and partitive division problems with a non-zero remainder. The participants solved six problems, and the analysis focused on their level of success and the strategies they used in the different grades. The results show student difficulties in solving this type of problems, in all grades. Nevertheless, they also indicate an increase in the level of success throughout elementary education. Although the use of the algorithm is the strategy the students use the most, they also employed other correct strategies such as graphic strategies in the early years, for a specific type of problem. Our results suggest that replacing graphic strategies with the algorithm does not always imply student understanding of the situation.

Keywords : problem solving; mathematical education; strategies; elementary education.