Relationship between Computational Estimation and Problem Solving

Despina Desli; Anastasia Lioliou

doi:10.29333/iejme/8435

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Despina Desli ¹ ^* , Anastasia Lioliou ¹

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¹ Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Faculty of Education, School of Primary Education, GREECE^* Corresponding Author

Abstract

The present study attempted to explore the relationship between computational estimation and problem solving in a sample of Year 6 children and adults (N=72). For this purpose, participants were presented with two tasks which asked them to estimate the computational result in eight arithmetic operations (Computational Estimation Task) as well as to provide solution to eight mathematical word problems, all coming from four different areas of mathematics (Problem Solving Task). The analysis of the results showed that adult participants accomplished more successful estimations compared to children, mostly with the use of rounding and algorithm strategies in both age groups. Age differences were also found in the Problem Solving Task with geometry and arithmetic problems being the most difficult for children and adults, respectively. Last, a significant positive correlation was revealed between estimation computational ability and problem solving ability: participants who had great success in computational estimation tended to indicate high success rates in problem solving. Educational implications are further discussed in terms of the role of computational estimation and problem solving in mathematics learning.

Keywords

computational estimation
problem solving
primary school mathematics

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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

INT ELECT J MATH ED, Volume 15, Issue 3, October 2020, Article No: em0602

https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/8435

Publication date: 30 Jul 2020

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APA

Desli, D., & Lioliou, A. (2020). Relationship between Computational Estimation and Problem Solving. International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, 15(3), em0602. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/8435

Vancouver

Desli D, Lioliou A. Relationship between Computational Estimation and Problem Solving. INT ELECT J MATH ED. 2020;15(3):em0602. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/8435

AMA

Desli D, Lioliou A. Relationship between Computational Estimation and Problem Solving. INT ELECT J MATH ED. 2020;15(3), em0602. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/8435

Chicago

Desli, Despina, and Anastasia Lioliou. "Relationship between Computational Estimation and Problem Solving". International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education 2020 15 no. 3 (2020): em0602. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/8435

Harvard

Desli, D., and Lioliou, A. (2020). Relationship between Computational Estimation and Problem Solving. International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, 15(3), em0602. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/8435

MLA

Desli, Despina et al. "Relationship between Computational Estimation and Problem Solving". International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, vol. 15, no. 3, 2020, em0602. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/8435