Analyzing Problems Posed by Prospective Teachers Related to Addition and Subtraction Operations with Integers

Abstract

In this study, it was aimed to analyze the structure of prospective middle school mathematics teachers’ problems posed with regard to given symbolic representation including addition and subtraction operations with integers. The study conducted with 96 last gradeelementary school mathematics teacher candidates studying in Faculty of Education of Erciyes University in Turkey at the beginning of 2018 years. A Problem Posing Task including five items regarding addition and subtraction operations with integers and semi-structured interview forms were used as data gathering tools. Results indicated that prospective teachers had difficulties in choosing problem types with regard to the given operation structure. Prospective teachers presented less success in problem posing with integers having different signs. Besides, some of the prospective teachers used signs of integers and operations interchangeably and some others multiplied signs of integers and operations, and they gave meaning to the result of this multiplication while they were posing problems.