Representing Numbers, Demystifying Equations.

This article focuses on using Base Ten Blocks in different ways in learning algebra and geometry. The use of these blocks has become more common in classrooms in the U.S. at a wide range of grade levels. These blocks are called Dienes blocks in many other countries. They were developed, tested and refined by mathematician Zoltan P. Dienes. The blocks are sometimes referred to as structured models for grouping and regrouping numbers. In England, researcher Valsa Koshy asked a nine year-old child if it would have helped him to solve a problem if he had used a set of Dienes blocks. The child replied that using the blocks would have certainly helped him.