Analysis of mistakes and concept regarding the topic of rational numbers in mathematics lesson of the seventh class in the primary education

The aim of this research is to show the mistakes of 7th grade students about the rational numbers and concepts.The research is applied to the 7th grade students who go to Kamil Ocak Primary School in the county of Ankara, Kecioren in the 2007-2008 education year. These students consist of two classes who were randomly chosen.With the aim of researching the students? mistakes about the rational numbers concepts, an evaluation appliance totaly consisting of 68 questions (1 multiple-choice, 5 true-false and 62 open-ended ) which are suitable to the aim of subject ? Ministry of Education, Education and Discipline Headship, Primary Maths subject (7th grade) rational numbers in the curriculum ? was developed. The questions were prepared in an enough number by the aspect of achievements (sub-problems). But the questions were presented to the students not in the aspect of achievements but in a mixed way. Also, appropriateness of the questions in the evaluation appliance to the projects NCTM (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics) and TIMSS (Trend in International Mathematics ans Science Study ) were examined.The questions were considered according to the achievements and their per cent and fruquency were cared with SPSS and Excel. Also, it was categorized by determining what kind of mistakes the students were made about the concepts for each question and what kind of concept mistakes they made.The students? mistakes about the rational numbers and the concept mistakes were identified according to the result of research and some of them were showed after scanning. Also, some suggestions were given on the mistakes and concept mistakes.