Students’ Preference of Method of Solving Simultaneous Equations

Abstract

The study focused on students’ preference of two methods of solving simultaneous equations. The researcher adopted three research questions and three hypotheses. The research questions were answered using the descriptive statistics of percentages, while, the hypotheses were tested using the chi-square. The study research design was survey. The total population of SS2 students in Sapele local government area in 2007/2008 Session was 776. Using proportionate stratified random sampling technique to obtained equitable sample size in the three-urban, semi-urban and rural areas. The total sample size used for the study was 458. The instrument for data collection was a Structured Test Questions (STQ) for the SS2 students taught by the researcher. The STQ given to the SS2 students was named Students’ Preference of Method Assessment Test Questions (SPMATQ). The SPMATQ was face-validated by eight mathematics teachers. Kudder Richardson – 21 was applied to test the reliability of SPMATQ to obtained r = 0.73. The findings revealed that SS2 students’ preferred substitution method irrespective of their gender for solving simultaneous equations. A recommendation was that students’ preference order (substitution method) should be encouraged or followed in teaching and learning of simultaneous equations.

KEY WORDS: Preference, Simultaneous, Equations, Substitution, and Elimination