Pre-service teachers’ knowledge about fraction divisions reflected through problem posing

This study investigated the conceptual understanding of fraction division of 72 Hong Kong pre-service teachers by asking them to pose a real life story problem. Analyses of the problems posed show that many of these pre-service teachers had incorrectly interpreted the division concept in their problems as sharing rather than measurement. A short intervention shows significant improvement in posing problems in terms of mathematical correctness as related to real life situations. This study particularly shows an increase of the correct use of the measurement concept from the pre-test to the post-test. The study also shows that problem posing could be used to measure conceptual understanding. Additional studies should be conducted to show effects of different teaching interventions regarding improving the conceptual understanding of divisions of fractions. Copyright © 2013 The Mathematics Educator. Association of Mathematics Educators.