Will elementary algebra disappear with the use of new graphing calculators?

José R. Vizmanos[1]

We begin with an historical look at the development of algebra by Diophantus, Al-Khowarizmi, Lucas Pacioli, Tartaglia, Descartes, etc. Then the relationship is established between the algebraic content and procedures necessary for students in secondary schools, which today can be solved very easily with a graphing calculator. A few examples will be given with the TI-92. Finally, we will insist that even if algebraic procedures will be obsolete in the near future, what will not become obsolete are the algebraic thinking strategies and the reasoning processes that permit us to model as equations situations that are given as verbal descriptions. These not only will not lose their importance with the appearance of graphing calculators; they should, much to the contrary, be the main objective of secondary teaching. Therefore, it appears that a profound revision of the algebra curriculum must be completed in order to adapt it to the future.

José R. Vizmanos

There is a PDF file available for this paper.

Gómez, P. & Waits, B. (Eds.) (1996). Roles of calculators in the classroom.

Mail comments to Pedro Gómez: pgomez@uniandes.edu.co