• 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.

• 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 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.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.

• 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 for History of Mathematics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.41-52
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• 2009

Dutch mathematician Simon Stevin published De Thiende(The Tenth) in 1583. In that book Stevin suggested new numerical notation which could express all numbers. That new notation was decimal fraction system. In this article I will argue that Stevin invented new decimal fraction system with two main purposes. The explicit purpose was to invent a new system which could be used easily by practical mathematicians. The implicit purpose which cannot be found in De Thiende alone but in his other writings was to break the Aristotelian tradition which separated geometry and arithmetic which dealt continuous magnitude and discrete numbers respectively.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.353-370
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• 2015

This study was conducted as a qualitative case study that explored how gifted 3rd-grade elementary school children who had learned the primary concepts of division and fraction, when they studied contents about decimal, formed the transformed primary concept and transformed schema of decimal by the learning of accurate primary concepts and connecting the concepts. That is, this study investigated how the subjects attained relational understanding of decimal based on the primary concepts of division and fraction, and how they formed a transformed primary concept based on the primary concept of decimal and carried out vertical mathematizing. According to the findings of this study, transformed primary concepts formed through the learning of accurate primary concepts, and schemas and transformed schemas built through the connection of the concepts played as crucial factors for the children's relational understanding of decimal and their vertical mathematizing.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.425-439
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• 2014

The concept of a fraction as division is a core idea which serves as a axiom in the process of a extension of the natural number system to rational number system. Also, it has necessary position in elementary mathematics. Nevertheless, the timing and method of the introduction of this concept in Korean elementary math textbooks is not well established. In this thesis, I suggested a solution of a various topics which is related to this problem, that is, transforming improper fraction to mixed number, the usage of quotient as a term, explaining the algorithm of division of fraction, transforming fraction to decimal.

• 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.