EXCEEDING MATHEMATICS: AWARENESS IN MATHEMATICAL SYMBOLS AND ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS OF FRESHMEN STUDENTS IN NAVAL STATE UNIVERSITY

This study assessed the awareness in mathematical symbols and algebraic expressions of freshmen students in Naval State University. Employing the descriptive-survey design, there were 150 respondents who answered the questionnaires and also evaluated through a test of their mathematical symbols comprehension skill and ability on assessing algebraic expression.The respondents’ profile revealed that most of them are female with an average age of 17 years old in which they are expected to think abstractly, ideally, logically and presumed to possess skills on recognition symbols according to Piaget, but showed a weak symbolic thinking greatly influenced by their biological build up. Although they did not exhibit a very good level of understanding of algebraic expression, they were still successful in manipulating this competency, because knowing algebraic expression does not require deeper recognition of the symbol itself. It was found that a significant relationship existed between the respondents’ profile and their comprehension skill of mathematical symbols. It was recommended that curriculum, instructional materials and teaching strategies should be designed in accordance to gender equality since Mathematics was found to be one of the male-dominated subjects and those factors contributory to the weakness of the female group in this area could be addressed.