• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.26 no.5_6
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• pp.355-370
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• 2013

Thomas Harriot has been introduced in middle school textbooks as a great mathematician who created the sign of inequality. This study is about Harriot's symbolism and the theory of equation. Harriot made symbols of mathematical concepts and operations and used the algebraic visual representation which were combinations of symbols. He also stated solving equations in numbers, canonical, and by reduction. His epoch-making inventions of algebraic equation using notation of operation and letters are similar to recent mathematical representation. This study which reveals Harriot's contribution to general and structural approach of mathematical solution shows many developments of algebra in 16th and 17th centuries from Viete to Harriot and from Harriot to Descartes.

• East Asian mathematical journal
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.95-107
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• 2024

Let K be an imaginary quadratic field with ring of integers 𝓞_K and N be a positive integer. By K_(N) we mean the ray class field of K modulo N𝓞_K. In this paper, for each prime p of K relatively prime to N𝓞_K we explicitly describe the action of the Artin symbol (${\frac{K_{(N)}/K}{p}}$) on special values of modular functions of level N. Furthermore, we extend the Kronecker congruence relation for the elliptic modular function j to some modular functions of higher level.

• School Mathematics
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.257-272
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• 2015

This study is related to reinforcement of the continuity between Nuri curriculum and elementary mathematics curriculum emphasized by 2015 revised national curriculum. Considering that teachers tend to rely much more on textbooks than on curriculum, we analyzed the continuity between math-related activities of Nuri manuals for teachers and the elementary mathematics textbooks and aimed to suggest several ways for securing the continuity based on the result of analyses. To do this, we compared and analyzed Nuri manuals (for ages three to five) for teachers and the first and second grade mathematics textbooks in three aspects: mathematical contents, mathematical terms and symbols, and mathematical processes. We adopted the same analysis framework including continuity, discontinuity and reverse continuity as the study on the continuity between Nuri curriculum and elementary mathematics curriculum. As a result, the results of analyses were revealed in three aspects, respectively. We also discussed the results and suggested some implications for securing the continuity of Nuri manuals for teachers and the elementary mathematics textbooks and for revising curriculum and its materials such as textbooks, workbooks or manuals for teachers.

• East Asian mathematical journal
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.209-229
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• 2024

In this study, we design a teaching unit that constructs Pascal graphs and extended Pascal triangles to explore number patterns inherent in them. This teaching unit is designed to consider the diachronic process of teaching-learning by combining Dörfler's theoretical generalization model with Wittmann's design science ideas, which are applied to the didactical practice of mathematization. In the teaching unit, considering the teaching-learning level of prospective teachers who studied discrete mathematics, we generalize the well-known Pascal triangle and its number patterns to extended Pascal triangles which have directed graphs(called Pascal graphs) as geometric models. In this process, the use of symbols and the introduction of variables are exhibited as important means of generalization. It provides practical experiences of mathematization to prospective teachers by going through various steps of the generalization process targeting symbols. This study reflects Wittmann's intention in that well-understood mathematics and the context of the first type of empirical research as structure-genetic didactical analysis are considered in the design of the learning environment.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.5-12
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• 1998

The COM curriculum provides first a core of mathematics for all students, and then offers opportunities for students to enter different streams of mathematics studies. The flexible curriculum (COM) is certainly welcome as it focuses on a transition from concrete to conceptual mathematics and on sequentially learning the power of mathematical language and symbols from simple to complex. This approach emphasizes the use of computers in mathematics education in the upper secondary grades. In Mathematics A, one unit is developed to computer operation, flow charts and programming, and computation using the computer. In mathematics B, a chapter addresses algorithms and the computer where students learn the functions of computers, as well as programs of various algorithms. Mathematics C allots a chapter for numerical computation in which approximating solutions for equations, numerical integration, mensuration by parts, and approximation of integrals. But, unfortunately, they do not have any plan for the cooperation study.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.29-40
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• 2002

Fairy-tales give students opportunities to build connections between a problem-solving situation and mathematics as well as to communicate solutions through writing, symbols, and diagrams. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to introduce how to use fairy-tales in elementary mathematics classroom in order to develope student's mathematical concepts and process in terms of the following areas: ⑴ reconstructing literature ⑵ understanding concepts ⑶ problem posing activity. To be useful, mathematics should be taught in contexts that are meaningful and relevant to learners. Therefore using fairy-tales as a vehicle to teach mathematics gives students a chance to develope mathematics understanding in a natural, meaningful way, and to enhance problem posing and problem solving ability. Further, future study will continue to foster how fairy-tales literatures will enhance children's mathematics knowledge and influence on their mathematics performance.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.139-159
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• 2001

There are many papers about the 7th curriculum. According to those papers, the 7th curriculum is a new one which makes considerable change in mathematics education. But there are some problems in the 7th curriculum. In this paper, we discuss those problems at first. That is, the 30% reduction of mathematics contents may not be true, and there are some problems about the terms, symbols, and consistency in mathematics contents. We also consider some problems in mathematics textbooks itself and the mathematics textbook authorization under the 7th curriculum. We suggest that (1) there must be valid process in passage of mathematics contents, (2) we must give emphasis on the process - particularly, the teaching of basic concept or principles - rather than the result, (3) we must have guarantee of the equity in the mathematics textbook authorization.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.375-394
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to examine the transition of mathematical representation in Joseon mathematics, which is focused on numbers and operations, letters and expressions. In Joseon mathematics, there had been two numeral systems, one by chinese character and the other by counting rods. These systems were changed into the decimal notation which used Indian-Arabic numerals in the late 19th century passing the stage of positional notation by Chinese character. The transition of the representation of operation and expressions was analogous to that of representation of numbers. In particular, Joseon mathematics represented the polynomials and equations by denoting the coefficients with counting rods. But the representation of European algebra was introduced in late Joseon Dynasty passing the transitional representation which used Chinese character. In conclusion, Joseon mathematics had the indigenous representation of numbers and mathematical symbols on our own. The transitional representation was found before the acceptance of European mathematical representations.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.261-278
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• 2011

Definitions in elementary school mathematics textbooks are given to represent mathematical contents in terms of mathematical symbols and terms. In this study, we investigate the definitions in elementary school mathematics textbooks of the 7th and the revised 2007 curricula to comparatively analyze their contents and the way they are stated and suggest implications on teaching and learning mathematics.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.937-957
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to discover the features of symbol sense. This study tries to sum up the meaning and elements of symbol sense and the measures to improve them through documents. Also based on this, it analyzes the learning conditions about symbol sense for 6th grade mathematically able students and suggests the method that activates symbol sense in the math of elementary schools. Considering various studies on symbol sense, symbol sense means the exact knowledge and essential understanding in a comprehensive way. Symbol sense is an intuition about symbols that grasps the meaning of symbols, understands the situation of question, and realizes the usefulness of symbols in resolving a process. Considering all other scholars' opinions, this study sums up 5 elements of the symbol sense. (The recognition of needs to introduce symbol, ability to read the meaning of symbols, choice of suitable symbols according to the context, pattern guess through visualization, recognize the role of symbols in other context) This study draws the following conclusions after applying the symbol questionnaires targeting 6th grade mathematically able students : First, although they are math talents, there are some differences in terms of the symbol sense level. Second, 5 elements of the symbol sense are not completely separated. They are rather closely related in terms of mainly the symbol understanding, thereby several elements are combined.