• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.83-102
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to explore students' understanding on units embedded in multiple interpretations of fractions: (a) part-whole relationships, (b) measures, (c) quotients, (d) ratios, and (e) operators. A total of 150 sixth graders in elementary schools were surveyed by a questionnaire comprised of 20 tasks in relation to multiple interpretations of fractions. As results, students' performance on units varied depending on the interpretations of fractions. Students had a tendency to regard the given whole as the unit, which led to incorrect answers. This study suggests that students should have rich experience to identify and operate various units in the context of multiple fractions.

• School Mathematics
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.13-28
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• 2007

Division of fractions can be categorized as measurement division, partitive or sharing division, the inverse of multiplication, and the inverse of Cartesian product. Division algorithm for fractions has been interpreted with manipulative aids or models mainly in the contexts of measurement division and partitive division. On the contrary, there are few interpretations for the context of the inverse of a Cartesian product. In this paper the significance and the limits of existing interpretations of division of fractions in the context of the inverse of a Cartesian product were discussed. And some new easier interpretations of division algorithm in the context of a Cartesian product are developed. The problem to determine the length of a rectangle where the area and the width of it are known can be solved by various approaches: making the width of a rectangle be equal to one, making the width of a rectangle be equal to some natural number, making the area of a rectangle be equal to 1. These approaches may help students to understand the meaning of division of fractions and the meaning of the inverse of the divisor. These approaches make the inverse of a Cartesian product have many merits as an introductory context of division algorithm for fractions.

• East Asian mathematical journal
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.203-217
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• 2018

This study examined preservice elementary teachers' patterns and tendencies in thinking of drawn models of multiplication with fractions. In particular, it investigated preservice elementary teachers' work in a context where they were asked to select among drawn models for symbolic expressions illustrating multiplication with non-whole number fractions including a mixed number. Preservice teachers' interpretations of fraction multiplication used in interpreting different types of drawn models were analysed-both quantitatively and qualitatively. Findings and implications are discussed and further research is suggested.

• School Mathematics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.793-818
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to explore in detail $5^{th}$ grade students' understanding on the big ideas related to addition of fraction with different denominators: fixed whole unit, necessity of common measure, and recursive partitioning connected to algorithms. We conducted teaching experiments on 15 fifth grade students who had learned about addition of fractions with different denominators using the current textbook. Most students approached to the big ideas related to addition of fractions in a procedural way. However, some students were able to conceptually understand the interpretations and algorithms of fraction addition by quantitatively thinking about the context and focusing on the structures of units. Building on these results, this study is expected to suggest specific implications on instruction methods for addition of fractions with different denominators.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.193-212
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• 2017

This study focuses on cuisenaire rods that can be used when teaching fractions to elementary school students. First of all, this study critically examines the use of cuisenaire rods in learning of fraction proposed by various researches. Then, based on this review, this study explores in detail the use of cuisenaire rods in teachers' manuals developed from the revised curriculum by 2009 and in lessons related to fraction. The results of this study show that there are subtle differences in how to use cuisenaire rods in learning fractions and these subtle differences have a significant impact on students' understanding of the fractions. Therefore, the teachers should be able to accurately grasp the differences and utilize appropriate methods for teaching purpose. The followings are some of the implications for teachers or textbook developers when using cuisenaire rods in fraction learning: First, we should use cuisenaire rods in ways that can fully exploit the interpretations of the fraction as a part-whole and the fraction as a ratio. Second, we should focus on quantitative reasoning with unit to determine what each cuisenaire rod refers to. Third, it is necessary to take a more careful and sensitive approach to the use of cuisenaire rods. Teachers and textbook developers should constantly explore ways to make good use of mathematical manipulatives to help students understand conceptually in fractional learning. Furthermore, when teaching various mathematical topics using different manipulatives, I expect that there will be sufficient discussions and specific studies on how to use each of these manipulatives.

• East Asian mathematical journal
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.443-460
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• 2021

This study analyzes the characteristics of elementary math gifted classes through the development and application of teaching and learning materials. We used the guided reinvention methods including quasi-experiential perspectives. To this end, the applicability of Lakatos' quasi-empirical mathematical philosophy in elementary mathematics was examined, and the criteria for the development of teaching and learning materials for gifted students were presented, and then this study was conducted in this theoretical background. The subjects of the study were 21 elementary students at P University's Institute of Science and Gifted Education, and non-face-to-face real-time classes were conducted. Classes were divided into introduction, deployment1, deployment2, organization stages, and in each stage, small group cooperative learning was conducted based on group activities, and in this process, the characteristics of elementary mathematics gifted were analyzed. As a result of the study, elementary mathematics gifted students did not clearly present the essence of justification in the addition algorithm of fractions, but presented various interpretations of 'wrong' mathematics. They also showed their ingenuity in the process of spontaneously developing 'wrong' mathematics. On the other hand, by taking interest in new mathematics starting from 'wrong' mathematics, negative perceptions about it could be improved positively. It is expected that the development of teaching and learning materials dealing with various and original topics for the gifted students in elementary school will proceed through follow-up research.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.91-110
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• 2024

The purpose of this study is to explore visual models for deriving the fractional division algorithm, to see how students understand this integrated model, the rectangular partition model, when taught in elementary school classrooms, and how they structure relationships between fractional division situations. The conclusions obtained through this study are as follows. First, in order to remind the reason for multiplying the reciprocal of the divisor or the meaning of the reciprocal, it is necessary to explain the calculation process by interpreting the fraction division formula as the context of a measurement division or the context of the determination of a unit rate. Second, the rectangular partition model can complement the detour or inappropriate parts that appear in the existing model when interpreting the fraction division formula as the context of a measurement division, and can be said to be an appropriate model for deriving the standard algorithm from the problem of the context of the inverse of a Cartesian product. Third, in the context the inverse of a Cartesian product, the rectangular partition model can naturally reveal the calculation process in the context of a measurement division and the context of the determination of a unit rate, and can show why one division formula can have two interpretations, so it can be used as an integrated model.