Division syntax

[guyellis]

What is the best way to present division syntax to students who are starting to learn division?

Follow the same pattern that they are learning in school? If so this is the layout I've seen so far:

  ______
2) 4

Or should it be presented as: 4 ÷ 2?

I think that for a 6 to 10 year old it might be confusing to have 2 syntaxes where they divisor and numerator are on opposite sides.

Or perhaps show both syntaxes should be available and user can select in options which to use...

[guyellis]

@KDragos As someone who has been a teacher what is your valuable opinion?

[michaelgthomas]

I think that it is better to show the syntax as they learn it at school in order to avoid them switching context too much, especially for younger kids.

[KDragos]

Personally, I think the goal is that they should learn to recognize both. This way they are learning to be flexible. Limiting it to only one means that if they come across the other, they may not recognize it as quickly, giving them reason to doubt their skills.