Content Strand 1: Number Sense - Item Specification (8-2005)

NS03 (Conceptual Understanding of Operations) Demonstrate understanding of the meaning of multiplication and division of non-negative decimals and fractions and addition and subtraction of integers (1.1.5)

Item Format:

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

Stimulus, Stem, and Prompt Rules:

· Stimulus may include words, numbers, mathematical expressions, illustrations, charts, graphs, or diagrams.
· Fractions may include denominators of 2, 4, 8 or 2, 3, 6, 12 or 2, 5, 10
· Items may include integers between and including -100 and 100.
· Decimals may include tenths, 0.25, 0.50, or 0.75.

Vocabulary/Mathematical Terms:

· Terms that may be used: addition, difference, division, equation, multiplication, subtraction
· Terms that may be used with definitions or examples: quotient
· Terms that may not be used: addend, dividend, divisor, minuend, multiplicand, subtrahend

Item Characteristics:

a) Items may ask students to explain or demonstrate the meaning of multiplication or division of non-negative decimals and fractions through words or pictures.
b) Items may ask students to explain or demonstrate the meaning of addition or subtraction of integers through words or pictures.
c) Items may ask students to select and/or use an appropriate operation to show understanding of multiplication and division with non-negative decimals and fractions.
d) Items may ask students to describe a situation involving addition or subtraction of integers.
e) Items may ask students to explain why multiplication of fractions requires multiplying denominators and/or why adding and subtracting fractions requires a common denominator.
f) Items may ask students to select and/or use an appropriate operation to show understanding of addition and subtraction of integers. Items may ask students to translate a given picture or illustration into an equivalent symbolic representation of multiplication and division of non-negative decimals and fractions and addition and subtraction of integers.