Teaching a new method of partial fraction decomposition to senior secondary students: Results and analysis from a pilot study

Yiu Kwong MAN, Allen Yuk Lun LEUNG

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlespeer-review

Abstract

In this paper, we introduce a new approach to compute the partial fraction decompositions of rational functions and describe the results of its trials at three secondary schools in Hong Kong. The data were collected via quizzes, questionnaire and interviews. In general, according to the responses from the teachers and students concerned, this new approach has potential to be introduced at the senior secondary level, as an alternative to the method of undetermined coefficients described in common secondary mathematics textbooks. Some remarks on the related pedagogical issues are included. Copyright © 2012 Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching at Exeter University.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-18
JournalInternational Journal for Mathematics Teaching and Learning
Volume2012
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2012

Citation

Man, Y.-K., & Leung, A. (2012). Teaching a new method of partial fraction decomposition to senior secondary students: Results and analysis from a pilot study. International Journal for Mathematics Teaching and Learning, 2012, 1-18.

Keywords

  • Partial fraction decomposition
  • The improved Heaviside approach
  • Cover-up techniques

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