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use centred dots for multiplication instead of periods.
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Jessica B
Jessica B
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One of my main research areas is algebraic thinking at different levels. Yet, from time to time, I observe something that I cannot relate it to anything else that I know. 

This is the story of one of these things that happened today in my calculus class. As part of using the ratio test, students needed to work with factorials. One of them interpreted $(2k-1)!$ as $1\cdot3\cdot5...(2k-1)$$1\cdot3\cdot5\cdots(2k-1)$. It took quite a while for me to help him to see the correct interpretation. 

Thus, it does not look like it was just a mistake. If not a mistake, what was it? Can you see it as an example of a more general algebraic (or something else) misconception? Or alternatively, can you point to a "similar" phenomenon (mistake, error, misconception, or whatever you want to call it)?

One of my main research areas is algebraic thinking at different levels. Yet, from time to time, I observe something that I cannot relate it to anything else that I know. This is the story of one of these things that happened today in my calculus class. As part of using the ratio test, students needed to work with factorials. One of them interpreted $(2k-1)!$ as $1\cdot3\cdot5...(2k-1)$. It took quite a while for me to help him to see the correct interpretation. Thus, it does not look it was just a mistake. If not a mistake, what was it? Can you see it as an example of a more general algebraic (or something else) misconception? Or alternatively, can you point to a "similar" phenomenon (mistake, error, misconception, or whatever you want to call it)?

One of my main research areas is algebraic thinking at different levels. Yet, from time to time, I observe something that I cannot relate to anything else that I know. 

This is the story of one of these things that happened today in my calculus class. As part of using the ratio test, students needed to work with factorials. One of them interpreted $(2k-1)!$ as $1\cdot3\cdot5\cdots(2k-1)$. It took quite a while for me to help him to see the correct interpretation. 

Thus, it does not look like it was just a mistake. If not a mistake, what was it? Can you see it as an example of a more general algebraic (or something else) misconception? Or alternatively, can you point to a "similar" phenomenon (mistake, error, misconception, or whatever you want to call it)?

use centred dots for multiplication instead of periods.
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edit approved Nov 20, 2015 at 19:53
Community Bot
edit approved Nov 20, 2015 at 19:53
Community Bot
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One of my main research areas is algebraic thinking at different levels. Yet, from time to time, I observe something that I cannot relate it to anything else that I know. This is the story of one of these things that happened today in my calculus class. As part of using the ratio test, students needed to work with factorials. One of them interpreted $(2k-1)!$ as $1.3.5...(2k-1)$$1\cdot3\cdot5...(2k-1)$. It took quite a while for me to help him to see the correct interpretation. Thus, it does not look it was just a mistake. If not a mistake, what was it? Can you see it as an example of a more general algebraic (or something else) misconception? Or alternatively, can you point to a "similar" phenomenon (mistake, error, misconception, or whatever you want to call it)?

One of my main research areas is algebraic thinking at different levels. Yet, from time to time, I observe something that I cannot relate it to anything else that I know. This is the story of one of these things that happened today in my calculus class. As part of using the ratio test, students needed to work with factorials. One of them interpreted $(2k-1)!$ as $1.3.5...(2k-1)$. It took quite a while for me to help him to see the correct interpretation. Thus, it does not look it was just a mistake. If not a mistake, what was it? Can you see it as an example of a more general algebraic (or something else) misconception? Or alternatively, can you point to a "similar" phenomenon (mistake, error, misconception, or whatever you want to call it)?

One of my main research areas is algebraic thinking at different levels. Yet, from time to time, I observe something that I cannot relate it to anything else that I know. This is the story of one of these things that happened today in my calculus class. As part of using the ratio test, students needed to work with factorials. One of them interpreted $(2k-1)!$ as $1\cdot3\cdot5...(2k-1)$. It took quite a while for me to help him to see the correct interpretation. Thus, it does not look it was just a mistake. If not a mistake, what was it? Can you see it as an example of a more general algebraic (or something else) misconception? Or alternatively, can you point to a "similar" phenomenon (mistake, error, misconception, or whatever you want to call it)?

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Amir Asghari
Amir Asghari
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Is this just a mistake or a more serious misconception?

One of my main research areas is algebraic thinking at different levels. Yet, from time to time, I observe something that I cannot relate it to anything else that I know. This is the story of one of these things that happened today in my calculus class. As part of using the ratio test, students needed to work with factorials. One of them interpreted $(2k-1)!$ as $1.3.5...(2k-1)$. It took quite a while for me to help him to see the correct interpretation. Thus, it does not look it was just a mistake. If not a mistake, what was it? Can you see it as an example of a more general algebraic (or something else) misconception? Or alternatively, can you point to a "similar" phenomenon (mistake, error, misconception, or whatever you want to call it)?