Appendix A

Problem Solving Skills Test

Name: ____________________________________ Grade /Section _____________

1. What is the first step in simplifying rational algebraic expression?

Test I- Multiple choice. Encircle the letter of the best answer.

a. Factor both the numerator and denominator of the given rational algebraic
expression.
b. Divide the common factors.
c. Reduce the expression by dividing out the common factor/s in the numerator
and denominator if there is/are any.
d. Multiply the remaining factors.

2. In the rational expression 2

2
( X −25)
¿ , what factor is common to both
x +7 X + 10¿
numerator and denominator?
a. (x+5) b. (x-5) c. (x+2) d. (x-2)

3. Is the rational expression 2

( x−2)
in simplest form?
x −4
a. Yes, because the numerator and the denominator are in simplest form.
b. Yes, because the numerator and the denominator have no common factor.
c. No because the numerator and denominator have different degrees.
d. No because the numerator and denominator still have a common factor.

4. Which of the following is the simplest form of the rational expression

( y +2)
?
( y +2)
a. 1 b. -1 c. 2 d. y

5. Suppose Plaza Mabini has a perimeter of 4s and an area of s 2 What is the ratio
of the area to the perimeter of Plaza Mabini in simplest form?
(s) ( 4) (s2 ) (4 s )
a. b. c. d. 2
( 4) (s) (4 s ) (s )

6. Identify all values of x for which 2

x +7
is undefined.
x −3 x −28
a. –7, 4 b. 7, 4 c. 4, –7, 7 d. –4, 7

7. Which of the following equations gives the relationship between N and T in the
table?
N 1 2 3 4 5 6
T 1 4 7 10 13 16

a. T = 4 – 3N b. T = 3N + 1 c. T = 3N – 2 d. T = 2 – N
8. Identify all values of x for
(x−3)( x +6)
which is undefined.
( x −7 x +12)( x2 −36)
2

a. 3, –6 b. –6, 3, 4, 6 c. –6, 6 d. 4, 6

9. Which is a simplified form of

2 3 −2
2a b c
3 ?
( 4 a−1 b2 c )
3 5 4 5
a bc a a a b
a. b. 3 5 c. 3 5 d. 5
32 32b c 32b c 32 c

10. Simplify:
2
3 x +27 x +54
2
x −9
x −3 3(x−3) 3(x +6) 3(x−6)
a. b. c. d.
2 x−5 x +3 x−3 x−3

11. Simplify:
2
x −x−6 x +2
÷ 2
x +3 x −x−12
2
x−3 x −x−6
a. x 2−7 x−12 b. c. d. x 2−7 x +12
x−4 2
x −x−12

12. Simplify:
2 2
3 x +27 x +54 x −6 x +9
2
⋅ 2
x −9 2 x + 7 x −30
3(x +6) x −3 3(x +6) 3(x−6)
b. b. c. d.
2 x−5 2 x−5 x−3 x−3

13. What is the correct procedure in dividing rational expressions?

1.) Write the equivalent multiplication statement using the reciprocal of
the divisor.
2.) Multiply the numerators and denominators.
3.) Divide out any numerator factor with any matching denominator
factor.
4.) Factor the numerator and denominator.
5.) Simplify, if possible.
a. 1-2-3-4-5 b. 1-4-2-3-5 c. 1-4-3-2-5 d. 1-3-2-4-5
Test II – Problem Solving. Solve the following problems below and show your
solutions.

1 2
1. The Doggie bakery uses cup of flour for making a batch of dog treats and
4 3
cup of flour for making a batch of biscuits. How much flour is used for both
products?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_______________________

2. Jethro can fix a certain machine in 3 hours, but it takes Reymark 4 hours to do the
same job. How long would it take them to fix the machine if they worked together?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_______________________
2 1
3. A science teacher had of a liter of salt water. He used of the salt water for an
3 5
experiment. How much salt water does the teacher have left?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_______________________
4. A boat can go 10 km against a current in the same in the same time it can go 30
KM with the current. The current flows at 4Kph. Find the speed of the boat with no
current.___________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
______________________________________
3
5. A recipe calls for cups of sugar. Amari is tripling the recipe. How much sugar
4
will be needed?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_______________________
6. Maria is designing a rectangular garden. The length of the garden is represented
by the expression 2x + 3 meters, and the width is represented by x - 1 meters.
What is the area of the garden in square meters, expressed as a simplified
rational algebraic expression?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
___________

3
7. Romeo is celebrating his birthday! To prepare his lasagna, Romeo has galloon
4
of tomato sauce that needs to be divided into 5 bowls of the same size. How
many galloons of tomato sauce should Romeo put into each bowl?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
____________________________

8. A farmer wants to divide his land among his three children. The total area of the
garden land is represented by the rational algebraic expression:
2
6 x +12 x 2
Total Area 2
m . If each child will receive an equal share. What is the
x +2 x
expression for the area of garden land each child receives? Simplify the
expression fully.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
____________________________
 Appendix B
Level of Attitudes Towards Mathematics

For all the items, learners are required to tick the appropriate response from a set
of five (5) alternatives: "strongly agree" if they have a high level of agreement, "Agree" if
they have a moderate level of agreement, "neutral" if they were not sure about the
answer, "disagree" if they have a moderate level of disagreement, and "strongly
disagree" if they have a moderate level of disagreement. The researchers will collect the
questionnaires from the grade 8 learners.
The following are questions that learners need to pick:
Survey items 5- 4- 3- 2- 1 -Strongly
Strongly Agree Neutral Disagree Disagree
Agree
1. Mathematics helps one think
according to strict rules.
2. Mathematics is a useful subject.
3. Mathematics follows a particular set
of rules
4. I use little mathematics outside
school.
5. Mathematics is more difficult for me
than it is for most other learners.
6. Mathematics helps me to think
logically.

7. Most mathematics has practical uses

on the job.
8. Most people do not use mathematics
in their jobs.

9. Mathematics is one of my difficult

school subjects.

10. I would like to work at a job that lets

me use mathematics.

11. I try to do my best schoolwork in

mathematics.

12. There are different ways to solve

mathematics problems.

13. No matter how hard I try, I cannot

understand mathematics.
14. Mathematics is not needed in
everyday life.

15. There is always a rule to follow in

solving a mathematical problem.

16. I cannot understand why some

learners think mathematics is fun.

17. It is important to know mathematics

in order to get a job.

18. Mathematics is useful in solving

everyday problems.

19. It is easy for me to talk in front of my

mathematics class..

20. Trial and error is not very useful in

solving mathematics problems.

21. A knowledge of mathematics is not

necessary in most occupations.

22. I can get along well in everyday life

without mathematics.

23. Mathematics is easier for me than

any other school subject.

24. Learning mathematics involves

mostly memorizing.

25. l always refer to the textbook or

class notes when working on
mathematics problems.
Note: Adapted from the study of Andima, P. (2001). A study of attitudes towards
mathematics among learners in grade 10 in Namibia.
 Appendix C
Interview Protocol on Problem Solving Skills

The following set of questions were asked during the interviews:

1. What do you know about mathematical problem solving?
2. How do you solve mathematical problems?
Probing Question if in case the answer of the respondent is more technical:
What are the processes you usually use in solving math problems?

a. If you are familiar with the problem? (you know the formula)
b. The problem is new to you or you are not familiar? Why?
3. How do you know if you have understood the problem?
a. Do you master the problem by solving the problem repeatedly?
b. Do you make a drawing of the problem statement?
c. Do you have an estimated outcome?
d. Do you relate the problem in the sample in daily life?
4. Once you have arrived at an answer, what do you usually do? How often? Why?
a. Do you check your answer again?
i. Do you look back?
ii. Do you substitute your answer with the formula/ recheck the algorithmic
computations
iii. Verify it using other strategies?
b. Do you ask yourself if your answer makes sense?

Note: The questions above were adopted from the study of Guzman Gurat M. (2018)
“Mathematical problem-solving strategies among student teachers”, Journal on
Efficiency and Responsibility in Education and Science, Vol. 11, No. 3, pp. 53-64, online
ISSN 1803-1617, printed ISSN 2336-2375, doi: 10.7160/ eriesj.2018.110302.
 Appendix D
Interview Protocol on the Attitudes towards Mathematics

The following set of questions were asked during the interviews:

1. Do you like mathematics? Why?

2. What do you like most about mathematics? Why?

3. What do you like least about mathematics? Why?

4. Do boys have more natural abilities to do mathematics than girls? Why?

5. Do you think that some people are naturally good or poor in mathematics? Why?

6. Is mathematics a useful subject? Explain.

7. Is it important to know mathematics to get a good job? Explain.