ERROR ANALYSIS IN SOLVING SIMULTANEOUS AND QUADRATIC EQUATIONS IN SOME SELECTED SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN SABON GARI ZARIA IN KADUNA STATE

Abstract

This paper focuses on analyzing the common errors made by secondary school students in solving Simultaneous and
quadratic equations with an aim of highlighting this error especially to the teachers so that they can device means of
reducing such errors made by their students. The research aims at addressing the current poor performances in
mathematics by our secondary school students especially in the areas of solving linear and quadratic equations. The
research shows that most of the errors committed by majority of the students are additive errors, multiplicative
errors, wrong treatment of fractional expressions, and incorrect choices of coefficients when solving quadratic
equations using formula. It is being also observed that these errors are not only student centered, as some of this
error are also committed by teacher especially as a result of inadequate preparation of lesson and other human
factors. The research is limited to Sabon Gari local government area of Kaduna state due to time and
financial/logistics constraints. It is hope that the outcome of this research will go a long way in promoting better
understanding of mathematics especially in the areas of linear and quadratic equations and hence aids the
development of mathematics education in Nigeria. The researcher advises that the concerned authorities at both state
and local government levels should play a good role by organizing seminars and workshops to teachers with the aim of educating them on how to guide their student to avoid such errors