Using Relational and Instrumental Understandings to Prepare Students for Success With Solving Quadratic Equations on End of Course Exams

Abstract

Solving quadratic equations is one of the most important units taught in Algebra, but also one of the most difficult for student understanding. This curriculum is to get students using their calculator and blending the meaning of solving equations with graphing functions, with the end goal of students performing better on end of course exams. The majority of students struggle to remember all the methods used to solve quadratic equations, so this curriculum contains 6 lessons focusing on three methods that can be used to solve any quadratic equation. The lesson methods in the curriculum are graphing, factoring, and using the quadratic formula to solve quadratic equations in equation and word problem forms. The assessment will require the application for solving quadratic equations with a focus on students’ independently determining the best method to solve.