Children\'s Mathematics

Figure 9.11 a and b Frances and the train

Insightful mathematics

I was impressed by Frances’s ability to represent and check the 75 seats. Although I

did not expect her to multiply 75 × 7, I wondered if she saw any possible next steps

to solving this problem. Smiling, I remarked ‘but there were seven carriages’. Frances

looked puzzled: after pausing, she burst out excitedly ‘the photocopier!’ She

explained that she’d need ‘six more’. When the six additional copies were laid out

across the floor with her original drawing, the children were very excited to see the

complete ‘train’ with equal numbers of seats in each carriage.

184 Children’s Mathematics

(a)

(b)

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