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My interest in flexibility in equation solving comes from a research agenda whose aim is the study of flexibility in the teaching and learning of algebra. Several researchers have proposed operationalisations. One of the most relevant of these is the one proposed by Star and Seifert (2006). In this operational definition, flexibility is knowing multiple solution procedures to a problem and having the capacity to generate new and more efficient procedures to solve it. Even though this definition has had an impact on the research on flexibility (e.g., Xu et al., 2017), there are calls for a more comprehensive account (e.g., Ionescu, 2012) given flexibility’s contribution to efficient problem solving.

Here I offer a reflection about flexibility in equation solving that extends the definition by Star and Seifert. To this end, I offer examples of equation solving that suggest that there is a need for another property in the definition, to deepen both the investigation of students’ flexibility in equation solving and its fostering in teaching. I add ‘connections’ because when performing transformational activities, students make a number of procedural connections.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	connections, flexibility in equation solving, algebra teaching and learning
Research Division:	Education
Research Group:	Curriculum and pedagogy
Research Field:	Mathematics and numeracy curriculum and pedagogy
Objective Division:	Education and Training
Objective Group:	Learner and learning
Objective Field:	Secondary education
UTAS Author:	Hatisaru, V (Dr Vesife Hatisaru)
ID Code:	145491
Year Published:	2021
Deposited By:	Education
Deposited On:	2021-07-23
Last Modified:	2021-08-10
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