Algebraic Thought and the Role of a Manipulable Symbolic Language

Abstract

This commentary chapter begins with a discussion of the question, "What is meant by algebraic thought?" and of its possible answers, and emphasizes the necessity of including a manipulable symbolic language. Then, the need for a fuller classification system for the analysis of word problems is argued. Such a system should take account not only of a larger variety of problems but also of the interactions and distinctions between formulating the problem equations and manipulating them to find the problem solutions.