Teaching Factoring Quadratics Using the Generic Rectangle for Sophomore Students

Abstract

Results about a mathematical tool, called Generic Rectangle (GR), applied in a preparatory course in order to resolve algebraic problems such as multiplying binomials and factoring quadratics are shown. Such tool was used in the “introduction to engineering” subject at Universidad Politécnica del Golfo de Mexico (UPGM); up to 2014, this subject’s failure rate was very high (near 60%) in which traditional teaching method was used. After some curricular changes, including GR tool adopted in class, several objectives such as failure rate decrease (60% to 15%), notably motivation and enhancement increase (Likert’s test), and development of logic-mathematics reasoning, among others, could be reached. Results in 2015 indicates that 84% of population solved properly the final exam using GR; but regarding to those who worked with traditional method, just 25% of population obtained satisfactory results (2014); it means that GR is a better tool than traditional teaching method. Likert’s test results indicate that students developed a strong positive attitude when they work with GR, however attitude of students who used traditional teaching method were strong negative.