• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.223-238
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• 2001

Decimal fractions are the practical system of notations representing real numbers. The set of decimal fractions with the definition of comparison of decimal fractions and the identification of their double representations is essentially the field of real numbers. Therefore, we have to clarify the concept of decimal fractions. However, there are problematics that the aquisition of the concept of decimal fractions is not easy. In this paper, we attempt to eradicate the problematics relevant to the acquisition of decimal fractions discussed above and find the desirable direction of instruction of meaning for mathematical symbols: The case of decimal fractions. In J. Hiebert & decimal fractions. First of all, we clarify the essence of them - ratio, operator and linearity. And we compare and analyse the theories about decimal fractions of Resnick, Drexel, Brousseau and Hiebert and the contents of texts about decimal fractions in Korea. Finally, we suggest the efficient instruction methods which are faithful to the essence of decimal fractions and choose some methods among them to plan the classroom instruction and implement the methods in the classroom.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.37-62
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• 2014

In this thesis, we inquire into teaching method of decimal fraction concept in elementary mathematics education based on measurement activity. For this purpose, our research tasks are as follows: First, we design a experimental learning-teaching plan of 'decimal fraction' unit in 4th grade textbook and verify its effect. Second, after teaching experiment using experimental learning-teaching plan, we analyze the student's status of understanding about decimal fraction concept. As stated above, we have performed teaching experiment which is ruled by new lesson design and analysed the effects of teaching experiment. Through this study, we obtained the following results. First, introduction of decimal fraction based on measurement activity promotes student's understanding of measuring number and decimal notation. Second, operator concept of decimal fraction is widely used in daily life. Its usage is suitable for elementary mathematics education within the decimal notation system. Third, a teaching method of times concepts using place value expansion of decimal fraction is more meaningful and has less possibility of misunderstanding than mechanical shift of decimal point. Fourth, teaching decimal fraction through the decimal expansion helps students with understanding of digit 0 contained in decimal fraction, comparing of size and place value. Fifth, students have difficulties in understanding conversion process of decimal fraction into decimal notation system using measurement activity. It can be done easily when fraction is used. However, that is breach to curriculum. It is necessary to succeed research for this.

• School Mathematics
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is searching for the problems and alternatives on teaching for repeating decimal. To accomplish the purpose, we have analyzed the fifth, sixth, and seventh Korean national curriculums, textbooks and examinations for the eighth grade about repeating decimal. W also have analyzed textbooks from USA to find for alternatives. As the results, we found followings. First, the national curriculums blocked us verifying the relation between rational number and repeating decimal. Second, definitions of terminating decimal, infinite decimal, and repeating decimal are slightly different in every textbooks. This leads seriously confusion for students examinations. The alternative on these problems is defining the terminating decimal as following; decimal which continually obtains only zeros in the quotient. That is, we have to avoid the representation of repeating decimal repeated nines under a declared system which apply an infinite decimal continually obtaining only zeros in the quotient. Then, we do not have any problems to verify the following statement. A number is a rational number if and only if it can be represented by a repeating decimal.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.287-313
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• 2005

The decimal fraction concept plays an important role in understanding the real number which is one of the major concepts in school mathematics. In the school mathematics of Korea, the decimal fraction is treated merely as a sort of name of the common fraction, while many other important aspects of the decimal fraction concept are ignored. In consequence students fail to understand the decimal fraction concept properly, and merely consider it as a kind of number for formal computation. Preceding studies also identified students' narrow understanding of the decimal fraction concept. But none of them succeeded in clarifying the essences of the decimal fraction concept, which are crucial for discussing the didactical problems of it. In this study we attempted a didactical analysis of the decimal fraction concept and disclosed the roots of didactical problems and presented measures for its improvement. First, we attempted a phenomenological analysis of the decimal fraction concept and extracted 9 elements of the decimal fraction concept. Second, we has analyzed of the essence of the decimal fraction concept more clearly by relating it to the situations where it functions and its representations. For this we tried to construct the conceptual field of the decimal fraction. Third, we categorized he developmental levels of the decimal fraction concept from the aspect of external manifestation of the internal order. On the basis of these results, we attempted hierarchical structuring of the elements of the decimal fraction concept. And using the results of such a didactical analysis on the decimal number concept we analyzed the mathematics curriculum and textbooks of our country, investigated levels of students' understanding of the decimal fraction concept, and disclosed related problems. Finally we suggested directions and measures for the improvement of teaching decimal fraction concept.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-25
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to identify pre-service teachers' Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) about decimal calculation. A written questionnaire was developed dealing with decimal calculation. A total of 152 pre-service teachers from 3 universities were selected for this study; they had taken an elementary mathematics teaching method course and had no teaching experience. The results were as follows: First, with regard to the method of decimal calculation, most pre-service teachers were familiar with algorithms introduced in the textbook. But with regard to the meaning of decimal calculations, they had difficulties in understanding decimal multiplication or decimal division with decimal number. Second, pre-service teachers recognized reasons of errors as well as errors patterns that student might make. But this recognition was limited mainly to errors related to natural number calculation. Third, pre-service teachers frequently commented about decimals algorithms, picture models, the meanings of decimal calculations, and connections to natural number calculations. Many of them represented the meanings of decimal calculations through picture models as to help students' understanding, while they just mentioned algorithms or treated decimal calculation as natural number calculations with decimal point.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.69-76
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• 2003

In this article, We explained the historical origin and significance of decimal fraction, and draw some educational implications based on that. In general, it is accepted that decimal fraction was first invented by a Belgian man, Simon Stevin(1548-1620). In short, the idea of infinite decimal fraction refers to the ratio of the whole quantity to a unit. Stevin's idea of decimal fraction is significant for the history of mathematics in that it broke through the limit of Greek mathematics which separated discrete quantity from continuous quantity, and number from magnitude, and it became the origin of modern number concept. H. Eves chose the invention of decimal fraction as one of the "Great moments of mathematics."The method of teaching decimal fraction in our school mathematics tends to emphasize the computational aspect of decimal fraction too much and ignore the conceptual aspect of it. In teaching decimal fraction, like all the other areas of mathematics, the conceptual aspect should be emphasized as much as the computational aspect.al aspect.

• School Mathematics
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.463-477
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• 2009

Decimal Fraction with a significant meaning is being treated for long periods, from elementary school to high school. It is necessary to consider in a course of guidance about various aspects of decimal Fraction first of all in order that student understand well about the concert of it. If you overlook guidance of various means of decimal Fraction, Previously learned number system is limited understand of Decimal Fraction concept or meaning of Decimal Fraction limited to the one is difficult to calculate the Decimal Fraction, even can weaken understand of Real Number. Accordingly, in this study, we would like to separate meanings of the Decimal Fraction, focusing on the role and function of the Decimal Fraction in various situations used the Decimal Fraction. Based on this, we analyzed and criticized how to introduce the Decimal Fraction in elementary school textbooks according to the 7th curriculum.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of estimation strategy on placing decimal point in multiplication and division of decimals. To examine the effects of improving calculation ability and reducing decimal point errors with this estimation strategy, the experimental research on operation with decimal was conducted. The operation group conducted the decimal point estimation strategy for operating decimal fractions, whereas the control group used the traditional method with the same test paper. The results obtained in this research are as follows; First, the estimation strategy with understanding a basic meaning of decimals was much more effective in calculation improvement than the algorithm study with repeated calculations. Second, the mathematical problem solving ability - including the whole procedure for solving the mathematical question - had no effects since the decimal point estimation strategy is normally performed after finishing problem solving strategy. Third, the estimation strategy showed positive effects on the calculation ability. Th Memorizing algorithm doesn't last long to the students, but the estimation strategy based on the concept and the position of decimal fraction affects continually to the students. Finally, the estimation strategy assisted the students in understanding the connection of the position of decimal points in the product with that in the multiplicand or the multiplier. Moreover, this strategy suggested to the students that there was relation between the placing decimal point of the quotient and that of the dividend.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.199-219
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• 2011

In this thesis, we designed a experimental learning-teaching plan of 'decimal fraction concept' at the 4-th grade level. We rest our plan on two basic premises. One is the fact that a essential concept of decimal fraction is 'polynomial of which indeterminate is 10', and another is the fact that the origin of decimal fraction is successive measurement activities which improving accuracy through decimal partition of measuring unit. The main features of our experimental learning-teaching plan is as follows. Firstly, students can experience a operation which generate decimal unit system through decimal partitioning of measuring unit. Secondly, the decimal fraction expansion will be initially introduced and the complete representation of decimal fraction according to positional notation will follow. Thirdly, such various interpretations of decimal fraction as 3.751m, 3m+7dm+5cm+1mm, $(3+\frac{7}{10}+\frac{5}{100}+\frac{1}{1000})m$ and $\frac{3751}{1000}m$ will be handled. Fourthly, decimal fraction will not be introduced with 'unit decimal fraction' such as 0.1, 0.01, 0.001, ${\cdots}$ but with 'natural number+decimal fraction' such as 2.345. Fifthly, we arranged a numeration activity ruled by random unit system previous to formal representation ruled by decimal positional notation. A experimental learning-teaching plan which presented in this thesis must be examined through teaching experiment. It is necessary to successive research for this task.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.237-255
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to investigate elementary school students' understanding the concept and operations of decimal fraction. The survey research was performed for this study. This survey was done by selecting 156 students. Questionnaire were made in five areas with reference to the 2007 revised mathematics curriculum. Five areas were the concept of decimal fraction, the addition, the subtraction, the multiplication and the division of decimal fraction. The results of such analysis are as follow: The analyzed result of understanding about concepts and operation of decimal fraction showed a high rate of correct answer, more than 85%. Students thought that multiplication and division of decimal fraction is more difficult than addition, subtraction, concept of decimal fraction. As the learning about concepts and operation of decimal fraction progress, the learning gap is bigger. Effort to reduce the learning deficits are needed in the lower grades. Mathematics is the study of the hierarchical. Learning deficits in low-level interfere with the learning in next-level. Therefore systematic supplementary guidance for a natural number and decimal fraction in low-level is needed. And understanding concepts and principles of calculations should be taught first.