Abstract

ERRORS COMMITTED BY SENIOR SCHOOL STUDENTS IN SOLVING WORD PROBLEMS INVOLVING SET THEORY IN ASA, KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

1TIAMIYU, M. A., 2SALMAN, M. F. &3ISSAU, K. A.

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ABSTRACT This paper defined the concept of Error and briefly analyzed the errors committed by senior school students in solving word problems involving Set Theory in mathematics. It examined the influence of gender on students? academic performance in solving word problems involving Set Theory in mathematics. The sampled schools for the study were seven (7) selected schools from Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State, using a proportional stratified random sampling technique. A total of two hundred and eighty (280) students comprising of 140 male students and 140 female students were involved in the study. The data obtained were analyzed using frequency counts and chi-square statistics. The hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance. The findings from this study revealed that students committed five (5) types of error in solving word problems involving set theory. These include Structural error, Supposition error, Translation error, Operational error and Random error. It was also revealed that these errors were committed as a result of language problem. It was also revealed that gender has no significant influence on the rate at which each identified error was committed. It is therefore necessary for mathematics teacher to guide students appropriately to avoid committing the identified errors by taking them through the correct steps involved in solving word problems such as identifying key words and teaching their meanings, the context of the problem, understanding the language of the problem, correct interpretation to algebraic form and application of the correct method to solve the problem. Keywords: Conceptual Knowledge, Error, Word Problem, Problem Solving, Set Theory, Operational Error, Supposition Error, Translation Error, Random Error and Structural Error.

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