World Journal on
Educational Technology
Vol 5, Issue 3, (2013) 431-444
www.awer-center/wjet
Presenting solution strategies of fraction multiplication and division
on mathematics instructional websites
Cheng-Huan Chen, Graduate Institute of Information and Computer Education, National Taiwan Normal
University, Taipei, Taiwan (ROC)
Chiung-Hui Chiu*, Graduate Institute of Information and Computer Education, National Taiwan Normal
University, Taipei, Taiwan (ROC)
Chia-Ping Lin, Graduate Institute of Information and Computer Education, National Taiwan Normal University,
Taipei, Taiwan (ROC)
Shih-Tso Wu, Graduate Institute of Information and Computer Education, National Taiwan Normal University,
Taipei, Taiwan (ROC)
Ying-Chih Hung, Graduate Institute of Information and Computer Education, National Taiwan Normal University,
Taipei, Taiwan (ROC)
Suggested Citation:
Chen, C.-H., Chiu, C.-H., Lin, C.-P., Wu S.-T., & Hung, Y.-C. (2013). Presenting solution strategies of fraction
multiplication and division on mathematics instructional websites. World Journal on Educational
Technology, 5(3), 431-444.
Received October 12, 2013; revised November 02, 2013; accepted November 29, 2013
Selection and peer review under responsibility of Prof. Dr. Steven M. Ross, John hopkins University.
©2013 Academic World Education & Research Center. All rights reserved.
Abstract
This study explored emphasized solution strategies taught by frequently found mathematics instructional websites, which
teach students how to multiply and divide fractions. Based on the searching results of the well-known search engine Google,
content analysis was conducted on 32 instructional websites containing fraction multiplication or division. For fractional
division, this study found that 93.55% of instructional websites taught students invert-and-multiply to directly calculate the
results by expressions, while 16.13% and 19.35% of websites taught students picture division and common denominator,
respectively, mainly through graphical representation with text explaining the fractional operation process. Each solution
strategy of fraction multiplication and division possesses different characteristics and advantages; therefore, teachers or
instructional designers’ in future instructional web design or development should provide diverse solution strategies for
students to learn and strengthen the solution process description.
Keywords: Fraction multiplication, fraction division, solution strategies, instructional websites.
*ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE: Chiung-Hui Chiu, Graduate Institute of Information and Computer Education, National
Taiwan Normal University, 10610, Taipei, Taiwan (ROC).
E-mail address: cchui@ntnu.edu.tw, Tel. : +886-2-77343930