Student Difficulties and Misconceptions in Solving Simple Linear Equations

The purpose of this study was to investigate student difficulties, common errors and misconceptions in solving simple linear algebraic equations within a group of students (n = 217) from four different schools. The results suggest that the students in lower achievement groups have conceptual problems and mal-rules, some of which might be considered as misconceptions. In general, students in the middle and higher achievement levels did arithmetical and computational errors