Unpacking the Mystery: Reverse-Engineering GCF (Greatest Common Factor) and LCM (Least Common Multiple) (Poster 12)

• In Event: Thursday Poster Session 10:50 am
  In Poster Session: Research in Mathematics Education

Abstract

The concepts of Greatest Common Factor (GCF) and Least Common Multiple (LCM) are just a few of the common concepts taught in pre-service teacher content courses. In this study, we share a problem with illustrative artifacts on how students explored the mathematical structure of GCF and LCM, when engaging with 1) multiple problem-solving pathways via different representations, and 2) reserve-engineering their process. Although students gained insight into the structures and connections between GCF and LCM, there were mixed emotions about the project process itself. This paper presents student pathways for the project, and discusses the emotions experienced by working with reverse engineering the concepts of GCF and LCM.

Authors

• WenYen Huang, SUNY - College at New Paltz

• Christina Koehne, SUNY New Paltz