Natural editing of algebraic expressions

We call “natural editing of algebraic expressions ” the editing of algebraic expressions in their natural representation, the one that is used on paper and blackboard. This is an issue we have investigated in the Aplusix project, a project which develops a system aiming at helping students to learn algebra. The paper summarises first the Aplusix project. Second it presents a notion of algebraic expressions, of representations of algebraic expressions. The last section develops ideas about natural editing of algebraic expressions (insertion, deletion, selection, cut, copy, paste, drag and drop) and presents the choices made in the Aplusix system