Opening up Closed Quesitons

1. If you take (5 > 3), and do this (5+2 >3+2), is it still true?

    Instead, use ideas from open middle math to generate an example.  

    I think this would open up the question, but I don't think it is necessary to show as an example for students.  Perhaps, students can try open middle math to investigate on their own if the multiplication rule of inequalities is true for every set of numbers.

2. Solve these question: 2x < 5 + 2x and 5x < 5x - 6.

    Instead: come up with two linear inequalities: one that has no solution, and one where the solution is all real numbers.

    I think opening up this question is a lot better than the original. As an way of assessing students' understanding, the open question assesses not only students' ability to recognized "no solution" and "solution is all real numbers", but also their knowledge about how to construct a linear inequality.

3. What happens when the variables add up to zero?

    Instead: add "give an example".

    I think getting students to come up with their own examples gives them opportunity to show and apply their knowledge.