Improvement of Teaching Methods of Relative Value by Using Number Line

Abstract

It is difficult for pupils to understand on relative value. So we have developed new teaching methods as followings: 1) Students were fully asked to complete activities to draw a line that was k times a given arbitrary length. Next, they were asked to calculate the values using actual measured values by three type's formulas. 2) The structure of the number line, indicates the relationship between an actual measured value and a relative value, was carefully taught to students. 3) The first, the second type, obtaining a compared quantity, was introduced first to students. 4) The first and the third types were introduced by expression transformations using the unknown as □ in the formula of the second type. It was indicated that developed methods were effective in solving problems of relative value under experimental mathematics class of six graders. In addition, we mentioned the need for reexamination on curriculum of teaching relative value.