Exploring Learners’ solutions of an exponential equation.

Abstract

This article reports on grade 12 learners’ solutions of an exponential equation. It is a response to comments made in the National Senior Certificate 2014 Diagnostic Report. Learners from two schools in the Drakenstein area were used as participants for the study. An analysis of the learners’ solutions of an exponential equation was conducted, utilising the work of Tall from a Vygotskian perspective. Learners made use of different solution strategies to the problem, but demonstrated a limited understanding of exponential laws and mathematical ways of reasoning. The article opens up a debate on the influence of teacher talk on solutions of exponential equations and learners’ mathematical solution strategies within the context of school mathematics.