Fractions are challenging for both typically achieving children and adults. Although some prior research has focused on fraction difficulties of children with mathematics difficulties (MD), persistent difficulties encountered by adults with MD remain unknown. It is possible that these adults may be able to compensate for some deficits. In this…

The purposes of this study are to report current Preservice Teachers' (PTs) decimal abilities regarding the types of error patterns that they commit and to analyze characteristics of the errors in the problems posed for multiplication and division in decimals. We have determined common concept- and procedure-based errors made by the PTs. 37 PTs in…

We analyzed the solution pathways and errors found in the written responses of 469 prospective teachers solving an equation containing fractions. The majority (332, or 70%) used an algebraic method; 141 of the 332 (42%) were correct, and 22% of the algebraic methods were abandoned before a solution was obtained. We identified the steps in the…

This study investigated understanding of and misconceptions with fractions in college students enrolled in a remedial mathematics course. Data were collected from 22 college students for one semester. The analysis of 41 fraction problems revealed that participants' common misconceptions were associated with a lack of understanding of basic…

To understand misconceptions with rational numbers (i.e., fractions, decimals, and percentages), we administered an assessment of rational numbers to 331 undergraduate students from a 4-year university. The assessment included 41 items categorized as measuring foundational understanding, calculations, or word problems. We coded each student's…

The current study aims to examine meanings and error types associated with pre-service elementary teachers' semi-structured problems for the multiplication and division of fractions. A total of 83 junior pre-service elementary teachers were recruited in the spring semester of the 2016-2017 academic year. A researcher-developed Problem Posing Test…

Adults use a variety of strategies to reason about fraction magnitudes, and this variability is adaptive. In two studies, we examined the relationships between mathematics anxiety, working memory, strategy variability and performance on two fraction tasks: fraction magnitude "comparison" and "estimation." Adults with higher…

The purpose of this study was to investigate what common errors and misconceptions about fractions exist among Saudi Arabian college students. Moreover, the study aimed at investigating the possible explanations for the existence of such misconceptions among students. A researcher developed mathematical test aimed at identifying common errors…

Despite the importance of teacher fractional knowledge, there are several areas of teacher understanding that are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to characterise profiles of pre-service teachers' (PSTs) mathematical competence on the topic of fraction multiplication by examining PSTs' understanding of multiplication of fractions…

The aim of the study is to examine prospective mathematics teachers' pedagogical content knowledge in terms of knowledge of understanding students and knowledge of instructional strategies which are the subcomponents of pedagogical content knowledge. The participants of this research consist of 98 prospective teachers who are studying in two…