Investigation a Newly Introduced Word 'Stipulation' In Recent Elementary School Mathematics - In the Area of Geometry

제7차 초등학교 수학에 새롭게 등장한 용어 '약속'의 재음미 -기하 영역을 중심으로-

In recent elementary school mathematics a word 'stipulation' newly appears. The word is used instead of definition. However, there seems to be some differences between definition and stipulation. So, in this paper we investigate those differences through the concept 'function of definition'. In school mathematics textbooks there are definitions which carry out special functions In mathematical contexts or situations. We can say that we understand those definitions, only if we also understand the functions of definitions in those contexts or situations. Functions of definition are classified as, stipulation-function, discrimination-function, analysis-function, demonstration-function, improvement-function. With these analyses we made a frame for investigating the characteristics of the definitions in recent elementary school mathematics textbooks. As a result of analysing functions of definition we found that generally speaking, stipulation-function is excessively emphasized and the other functions of definition are not explained adequately in school mathematics textbooks. So it is required that the textbook authors should be careful not to miss an opportunity for the functional understanding and the mathematics teachers should be aware of the functions of definitions. Finally, we comment that textbook author, teacher, and researcher should be careful in using the word 'stipulation' instead of definition, because, although there are various functions of definitions, students might ream only stipulation-function.