Organização e progressão da dificuldade em exercícios de equações do 1º grau: uma análise de livros didáticos do 7º ano

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study aimed to analyze how three Mathematics textbook collections for the 7th grade of Elementary School organize exercises on first-degree equations, considering the progression of difficulty and the distribution between algorithmic and contextualized activities. The research adopted a qualitative approach, with a documentary nature and the support of descriptive quantitative procedures. Exercises from three textbook collections were analyzed and classified according to the type of activity, algorithmic or contextualized and the level of cognitive difficulty, based on an adaptation of Bloom’s Taxonomy. The sequence of activities, the progression of complexity, and the relationship between the exercises and the skills established by the Brazilian National Common Curricular Base (BNCC) were also considered. The results showed that the three collections present different forms of exercise organization, alternating algorithmic and contextualized activities and employing different levels of complexity. Regarding progression, the analysis showed that the textbooks gradually increase the complexity of the activities, although not all of them follow a linear sequence between the different difficulty levels. The analysis also indicated a relationship between a significant portion of the activities and the skills established by the BNCC for teaching first-degree equations. It is concluded that the analyzed textbooks employ different strategies for organizing exercises, combining algorithmic procedures and contextualized situations, with variations in the distribution and progression of difficulty. The results reinforce the importance of an organization that integrates mastery of algebraic procedures with problem solving, fostering the gradual development of students’ mathematical knowledge and strategies. Keywords: Mathematics Education. First-Degree Equations. Textbooks. Algorithmic Exercises. Problem Solving.