• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.125-140
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• 2023

In elementary school mathematics, the addition and subtraction of fractions are difficult for students to understand but very important concepts. This study aims to examine the teaching methods and visual aids utilized in the context of common denominator fraction addition and subtraction. The analysis focuses on evaluating the lesson flow and the utilization of visual representations in one national textbook and ten certified textbooks aligned with the current 2015 revised curriculum. The results show that each textbook is composed of chapter sequences and topics that reflect the curriculum faithfully, with each textbook considering its own order and content. Additionally, each textbook uses a different variety and number of visual representations, presumably intended to aid in learning the operations of fractions through the consistency or diversity of the visual representations. Identifying the characteristics of each textbook can lead to more effective instruction in fraction operations.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.307-332
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• 2022

This action research was carried out to help students learn fractions computation by making and using semi-concrete fraction manipulatives that can be used continuously in math classes. For this purpose, the researcher and students made semi-concrete fraction manipulatives and learned how to use these through reviewing the previously learned fraction contents over 4 class sessions. Afterward, through the 14 classes (7 classes for learning to reduce fractions and to a common denominator, 7 classes for adding and subtracting fractions with different denominators) in which the principle inquiry learning model was applied, students actively engaged in learning activities with fraction manipulatives and explored the principles underneath the manipulations of fraction manipulatives. Students could represent various fractions using fraction manipulatives and solve fraction computation problems using them. The achievement evaluation after class found that the students could connect the semi-concrete fraction manipulatives with fraction representation and symbolic formulas. Moreover, the students showed interest and confidence in mathematics through the classes using fraction manipulatives.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.207-231
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• 2015

We discuss several issues relating to the meaning of the terms and phrases in the first half of Chapter One fang tian 方田章 of ${\ll}$Jiuzhang suanshu九章算術${\gg}$. I understood those issues more clearly in the course of the translation of ${\ll}$Kujang sulhae 九章術解${\gg}$. Those are '今有' in the beginning of each problem, '積' and '冪' in the method of square field 方田術, '齊' in the method of reduction to a common denominator 齊同術, '經' and '有分者通之重有分者同而通之' in the method of dividing fraction 經分術, '實如法而一' in the calculation using the rods, '兩邪' in the method of trapezium field with a perpendicular side 邪田術. We may find out the value of ${\ll}$Kujang sulhae 九章術解${\gg}$ through our discussion.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.329-355
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to understand the difference of cognitive structure depending on the level of the 6th graders' problem-solving abilities about the division of fraction and to propose a method for improving the 6th graders' understanding about the division of fraction through the word association test. The following is the findings from this study. 1)The lower level students' is, the lower the step that the chunk appeared in cognitive structure is. 2)The basic level students' association frequency between any two concepts was less than the excellent level students and the ordinary level students' it. 3)The basic level students' connection number between concepts was far less than the excellent level students and the ordinary level students' it. 4)The connection between natural number and unit fractions, subtraction of fraction and division of fraction, division of fraction and reduction to common denominator, and division of fraction and common multiple that expected in this study did not appear in the three groups.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.521-539
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• 2016

The structures of partitive and quotitive division of fractions are dealt with differently, and this led to using partitive division context for helping develop invert-multiply algorithm and quotitive division for common denominator algorithm. This approach is unlikely to provide children with an opportunity to develop an understanding of common structure involved in solving different types of division. In this study, I propose two approaches, measurement approach and isomorphism approach, to develop a unifying understanding of fraction division. From each of two approaches of solving quotitive division based on proportional reasoning, I discuss an idea of constructing a measure space, unit of which is a quantity of divisor, and another idea of constructing an isomorphic relationship between the measure spaces of dividend and divisor. These ideas support invert-multiply algorithm for quotitive as well as partitive division and bring proportional reasoning into the context of fraction division. I also discuss some curriculum issues regarding fraction division and proportion in order to promote the proposed unifying understanding of partitive and quotitive division of fractions.

• East Asian mathematical journal
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.565-587
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to analyze the understanding of the meaning of fraction division and fraction division algorithm of elementary mathematical gifted students through the process of problem posing and solving activities. For this goal, students were asked to pose more than two real-world problems with respect to the fraction division of ${\frac{3}{4}}{\div}{\frac{2}{3}}$, and to explain the validity of the operation ${\frac{3}{4}}{\div}{\frac{2}{3}}={\frac{3}{4}}{\times}{\frac{3}{2}}$ in the process of solving the posed problems. As the results, although the gifted students posed more word problems in the 'inverse of multiplication' and 'inverse of a cartesian product' situations compared to the general students and pre-service elementary teachers in the previous researches, most of them also preferred to understanding the meaning of fractional division in the 'measurement division' situation. Handling the fractional division by converting it into the division of natural numbers through reduction to a common denominator in the 'measurement division', they showed the poor understanding of the meaning of multiplication by the reciprocal of divisor in the fraction division algorithm. So we suggest following: First, instruction on fraction division based on various problem situations is necessary. Second, eliciting fractional division algorithm in partitive division situation is strongly recommended for helping students understand the meaning of the reciprocal of divisor. Third, it is necessary to incorporate real-world problem posing tasks into elementary mathematics classroom for fostering mathematical creativity as well as problem solving ability.

• East Asian mathematical journal
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.183-207
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• 2024

This study is a case study that considered fractional senses and fraction operation abilities for 107 gifted students in elementary school classes. In order to find out the fractional sense, in the first question comparing the sizes of fractions 2/3 and 4/5, the students showed a variety of strategies, but the utilization rate of strategies excluding reduction to a common denominator did not exceed 50%. The second question can be solved by using the first question. It is a problem of finding two fractions by selecting four from six numbers 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 to create two fractions of which sum does not exceed 1. The percentage of correct answers to this question was about 27% (29 out of 107). Only 5 out of 29 students found answers using the first question, and the rest of the students sought answers through trial and error in various calculations. It shows that the item arrangement method from a deductive perspective has no significant effect on elementary school students. The percentage of correct answers was about 27% in the questions to find out the fraction operation ability-the question of drawing a 4/3 bar using a given 3/8-sized bar and 30.7% (23 out of 75) of the students who had wrong answers showed insufficient splitting operation. In addition, it has been shown that the operation of partitioning and iterating to form numerical senses and fractional concepts related to the fractions of the students has no significant impact.

• School Mathematics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.625-645
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• 2016

This study clarified the big ideas related to teaching addition and subtraction of fractions with different denominators based on quantitative reasoning with unit and recursive partitioning. An analysis of this study urged us to re-consider the content related to the addition and subtraction of fraction. As such, this study analyzed textbooks and teachers' manuals developed from the fourth national mathematics curriculum to the most recent 2009 curriculum. In addition and subtraction of fractions with different denominators, it must be emphasized the followings: three-levels unit structure, fixed whole unit, necessity of common measure and recursive partitioning. An analysis of this study showed that textbooks and teachers' manuals dealt with the fact of maintaining a fixed whole unit only as being implicit. The textbooks described the reason why we need to create a common denominator in connection with the addition of similar fractions. The textbooks displayed a common denominator numerically rather than using a recursive partitioning method. Given this, it is difficult for students to connect the models and algorithms. Building on these results, this study is expected to suggest specific implications which may be taken into account in developing new instructional materials in process.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.385-403
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• 2018

Fraction division can be categorized as partitive division, measurement division, and the inverse of a Cartesian product. In the contexts of quotitive division and the inverse of a Cartesian product, the multiply-by-the-reciprocal algorithm is drawn well out. In this study, I analyze the potential and significance of the method of using $1{\div}$(divisor) as an alternative way of developing the multiply-by-the-reciprocal algorithm in the context of quotitive division. The method of using $1{\div}$(divisor) in quotitive division has the following advantages. First, by this method we can draw the multiply-by-the-reciprocal algorithm keeping connection with the context of quotitive division. Second, as in other contexts, this method focuses on the multiplicative relationship between the divisor and 1. Third, as in other contexts, this method investigates the multiplicative relationship between the divisor and 1 by two kinds of reasoning that use either ${\frac{1}{the\;denominator\;of\;the\;divisor}}$ or the numerator of the divisor as a stepping stone. These advantages indicates the potential of this method in understanding the multiply-by-the-reciprocal algorithm as the common structure of fraction division. This method is based on the dual meaning of a fraction as a quantity and the composition of times which the current elementary mathematics textbook does not focus on. It is necessary to pay attention to how to form this basis when developing teaching materials for fraction division.