• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.85-100
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• 2005

In recent papers (Pak et al., Pak and Kim), it was suggested to positively use the history of mathematics for the education of mathematics and discussed the determining problem of the order of instruction in mathematics. There are three kinds of order of instruction - historical order, theoretical organization, lecturing organization. Lecturing organization order is a combination of historical order and theoretical organization order. It basically depends on his or her own value of education of each teacher. The present paper considers a concrete problem determining the order of instruction for the concept of angle. Since the concept of angle is defined in relation to figures, we have to solve the determining problem of the order of instruction for the concept of figure. In order to do this, we first investigate a historical order of the concept of figure by reviewing it in the history of mathematics. And then we introduce a theoretical organization order of the concept of figure. From these basic data we establish a lecturing organization order of the concept of figure from the viewpoint of problem-solving. According to this order we finally develop the concept of angle and a related global property which leads to the so-called Gauss-Bonnet theorem.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.479-491
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• 2009

This paper researches the possibility of introducing Descartes' theorem to mathematically gifted students. Not only is Descartes' theorem logically equivalent to Euler's theorem but is hierarchically connected with Gauss-Bonnet theorem which is the core concept on differential geometry. It is possible to teach mathematically gifted students Descartes' theorem by generalizing mathematical property in solid geometry through analogical reasoning, that is, so in a polyhedrons the sum of the deficient angles is $720^\circ$ as in an polygon the sum of the exterior angles is $360^\circ$. This study introduces an alternative method of instruction that we enable mathematically gifted students to reinvent Descartes' theorem through analogical reasoning instead of deductive reasoning.