Is there a place for parameters in the school mathematics course?

Abstract

The question of the expediency and usefulness of problems with parameters in the Mathematics course taught in secondary schools in Ukraine is raised in this study. The purpose of the paper is to present the author's own vision of the possibility of forming the concept of parameter in the school course of Mathematics, starting from the primary school.

It is noted that the process of forming the concept of a parameter is effective if its participants are motivated, have the competence to carry out this process, and appropriate starting conditions for this process and conditions for its support during the course of study are created. It has been found that in primary school, two of the four existing model curricula of Algebra do not include problems with parameters. In the other two, such tasks are included in additional topics. That is, the question of the expediency of learning to solve them is at the discretion of the teacher. Nine current seventh-grade textbooks created by different authors were analyzed to determine whether they mention parameters or have problems with parameters in the topic “Linear equations with one variable”, where parameters could naturally appear in the primary school course of Mathematics. It was found that most textbooks do not use the concept of a parameter in the definition of a linear equation; and only one textbook introduces the concept of a linear equation with a parameter in a special section for those who want to know more. At the same time, in almost all textbooks, problems with parameters are actually included in the system of problems for the topic “Linear equations with one variable”. However, they are in a “hidden” form, as the wording of the tasks does not contain the word ‘parameter’. The paper outlines the topics of Algebra in grades from 7th to 9th, which could be taught to pupils to solve problems with parameters explicitly. This could help pupils not to be afraid of such tasks in the future and develop the ability to solve basic problems with parameters. The paper emphasizes the importance of keeping problems with parameters in the school course of Mathematics.