A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF TWO METHODS FOR SOLVING QUADRATIC EQUATIONS

Samuel Kwaku Boadu () and Gyasi Alfred Bannor
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Samuel Kwaku Boadu: Department of Mathematics Education, Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Kumasi, Ghana
Gyasi Alfred Bannor: Department of Mathematics Education, Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Kumasi, Ghana

Matrix Science Mathematic (MSMK), 2023, vol. 7, issue 2, 69-72

Abstract: For the past millennia, various methods had been developed to solve quadratic equations with one unknown. Among high school mathematics curriculum worldwide, quadratic equations teaching and learning intensively utilizes the completing squares method. The present study compared Loh’s method to completing squares to examine the difference in students performance in solving quadratic equations. A random sample of 21 students were put into control (n=11) and experimental groups (n=10). The experimental group solved two essay type questions using Loh’s method whiles the control group used completed squares. Students test scores were analysed non-parametrically by Mann-Whitney U test. The results revealed statistically significant difference in test scores between control group (median=2.00,n=11) and experimental group (median=5.00,n=10). The median for the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group. The study recommended that teachers, curriculum developers and policy makers should be highly interested in intuitive approaches, particularly Loh’s method, that discourage rote memorization.

Keywords: Algebra; Completing Squares; High Schools; Loh’s Method; Mathematics; Quadratic Equations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zib:zbmsmk:v:7:y:2023:i:2:p:69-72

DOI: 10.26480/msmk.02.2023.69.72

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