Following are several examples
collected from high school students:
Example 1: The student in the first
example reasoned that since the ratio
of paired 2nd graders is smaller than the
ratio of paired 6th graders, the class of
2nd graders must be larger.
Example 2: This student identified the
ratios and then stated that “there are
more 2nd graders.” Since the student
did not provide the rationale for this
answer, some potential follow-up
questions might include: How did you
use the ratios to help you draw your
conclusion? Or, Can you name a
different pair of ratios that would also
tell you that there were more 2nd
graders?
Example 3: Ask this student to
describe the reasoning for using 1/3
and 1/4 , as well as how the use of
decimals supports the conclusion
Example 4: Ask this student to explain
the relationship between 2/3 of one
group and 3/4 of another group.
Consider: Is one of these quantities
larger than the other? What does that
infer for the quantities to be
compared?