alligator method
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More Than: Concept and Symbol
The alligator eats the bigger number is the common approach for student to use inequality symbols (< > < > ). I find that students remember the sentence but many do not retain the concept or use the symbols correctly, even in high school. This post presents an alternative approach. Alligator Method The reason, I believe, is…
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Unpacking the Inequality Symbols
I have found that many students I have taught, including in college, struggle with the inequality symbols. Typically, they cannot remember which symbol is less than or greater than despite various efforts such as the “alligator eats the bigger number” method. I’ve found traction by using the dot method. It is like a light bulb…