Content Strand 5: Algebraic Sense - Item Specification (8-2005)

AS02 (Symbols and Notations) Express relationships between quantities using =, ?, <, >, <=, >= ; use variables to write expressions, linear equations and inequalities that represent situations involving non-negative rational numbers (1.5.3, 1.5.4)

Item Format:

· Multiple-Choice and Short-Answer items may be used to test this learning target.

Stimulus, Stem, and Prompt Rules:

· Stimulus may include pictorial representations, tables, charts, or graphs.
· Stimulus may include the use of variables to represent an unknown quantity in expressions or equations.
· Stimulus may use non-negative decimals and fractions.
· Stimulus should avoid the use of the letters a, b, c, d and x as variables.

Mathematical Vocabulary and Terms:

· Terms that may be used: =, ?, <, >, <=, >=, equation, expression, relationship, variable
· Terms that may be used with definitions or examples: function, inequality, interval
· Terms that may not be used:

Item Characteristics

a) Items may ask students to identify or write a simple expression, using variables, to represent a given situation.
b) Items may ask students to identify or write a simple equation or a simple inequality with variables to represent a given situation, using =, ?, <, >, <=, or >=.
c) Items may ask students to explain the meaning of a variable in a formula, expression, or equation.
d) Items may ask students to identify or describe a situation that corresponds to a given equation or expression.