Approaching the distributive law with young pupils

Resumen

This paper contributes to the research strand concerning early algebra and focuses on the distributive law. It reports on a study involving pupils aged 8 to 10, engaging in the solution of purposefully designed problem situations. These situations are organized to favor specifying the students' solutions and to motivate a collective comparison of the arithmetic expressions that codify the solution processes. The study focuses on ways in which perception leads to different mental images that influence the choice of either the (a + b) x c or (a x c) + (b x c) the representation. It highlights that understanding these dynamics is a fundamental step for a meaningful learning of the property.