Using crossing method for teaching, learning and solving systems of linear equations for two unknowns that yield no solution in Tanzanian secondary schools

Method for teaching, learning and solving systems of linear equations for two unknowns that yield no solution

Abstract

This paper presents an alternative approach of teaching, learning and solving systems of two linear equations for two unknowns that yield no solutions. We conducted a desk-based research on methods that have been used by in-service mathematics teachers for teaching systems of two linear equations in ordinary secondary schools. It was found that five common methods (substitution, elimination, graphical, inverse matrix, Cramer’s rule) have been used for teaching a system of two linear equations for two unknowns that yield no solution and all methods yield the same answer regardless of having different ways of approaching the system. We realized that a crossing method (alternative approach) is not found in the literature and yet not used by teachers for teaching students a system of two linear equations that yield no solution. But this crossing method yields similar answers with that resulted when using the five common methods. We present this alternative method in this paper by comparing with the answers obtained using five methods while focusing on two systems of two linear equations that yield no solution. This new approach has implications in teaching, learning and solving systems of two linear equations that yield no solutions in ordinary secondary schools, including mathematics teachers and educators can use this method for teaching students in solving systems of two linear equations for two unknowns that yield no solutions.