• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.319-339
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• 2014

Recently, the discussion about division and partition of fraction increases in Korea's national curriculum documents. There are varieties of assertions arranging from the opinion that both interpretations are unintelligible to the opinion that both interpretations are intelligible. In this paper, we investigated a possibility that division and partition interpretation of fraction become valid. As a result, it is appeared that division and partition interpretation of fraction can be defined reasonably through expansion of interpretation of natural number. Besides, division and partition interpretation of fraction can be work in activity, such as constructing equation from sentence problem, or such as proving algorithm of fraction division.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.395-411
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• 2013

There are two concepts of division: measurement division and partitive or fair-sharing division. Students are expected to understand comprehensively division algorithm in both contexts. Contents of textbooks and teachers' guidebooks should be suitable for helping students develop comprehensive understanding of algorithm for whole-number division in both contexts. The results of the analysis of textbooks and teachers' guidebooks shows that they fail to connect two division contexts with division algorithm comprehensively. Their expedient and improper use of two division contexts would keep students from developing comprehensive understanding of algorithm for whole-number division. Based on the results of analysis, some ways of improving textbooks and teachers' guidebooks are suggested.

• 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.

• School Mathematics
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.45-64
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• 2012

The purpose of the present study was to investigate middle grades (Grade 5-7) mathematics teachers' knowledge of partitive fraction division. The data were derived from a part of 40-hour professional development course on fractions, decimals, and proportions with 13 in-service teachers. In this study, I attempted to develop a model of teachers' way of knowing partitive fraction division in terms of two knowledge components: knowledge of units and partitioning operations. As a result, teachers' capacities to deal with a sharing division problem situation where the dividend and the divisor were relatively prime differed with regard to the two components. Teachers who reasoned with only two levels of units were limited in that the two-level structure they used did not show how much of one unit one person would get whereas teachers with three levels of units indicated more flexibilities in solving processes.

• School Mathematics
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.585-604
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• 2010

This study aims to investigate understanding of meanings of division, quotitive division and partitive division, by the third graders and preservice elementary teachers. To do this, we analysed and compared mathematics textbooks according to 9 mathematics curricula, gathered information about their understanding by questionnaire method targeting 5 third graders and 36 preservice elementary teachers, and analysed their responses in relation to recognition of division-based situations, solution using visual representations, and awareness of quotitive division and partitive division. In Korea, meanings of division have been taught in grade 2 or 3 in various ways according to curricula. In particular, the mathematics textbook of present curriculum shows a couple of radical changes in relation to introduction of division. We raised the necessity of reexamination of these changes, based on our results from questionnaire analysis that show lack of understanding about two meanings of division by the preservice elementary teachers as well as the third graders. And we also induced several didactical implications for teaching meanings of division.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.17-35
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to analyze the extendibility of division algorithm and Euclid algorithm for integers to algorithms for rational numbers based on word problems of fraction division. This study serviced to upgrade professional development of elementary and secondary mathematics teachers. In this paper, fractions were used as expressions of rational numbers, and they also represent rational numbers. According to discrete context and continuous context, and measurement division and partition division etc, divisibility was classified into two types; one is an abstract algebraic point of view and the other is a generalizing view which preserves division algorithms for integers. In the second view, we raised some contextual problems that can be used in school mathematics and then we discussed division algorithm, the greatest common divisor and the least common multiple, and Euclid algorithm for fractions.

• 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.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.217-230
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• 2013

This study attempts to propose the construction of textbook contents of fraction division and to suggest a method to strengthen the connection among problem context, manipulation activities and symbols by proposing an algorithm of dividing fractions based on problem contexts. As showing the suitable algorithm to problem context, it is able to understand meaningfully that the algorithm of fractions division is that of multiplication of a reciprocal. It also shows how to deal with remainder in the division of fractions. The results of this study are expected to make a meaningful contribution to textbook development for primary students.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.501-525
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• 2015

This study analyzes arithmetic word problem of multiplication and division in the mathematics textbooks and workbooks of 3rd grade in elementary school according to 2009 revised curriculum. And we analyzes type of the problem solving ability which 4th graders prefer in the course of arithmetic word problem solving and the problem solving ability as per the type in order to seek efficient teaching methods on arithmetic word problem solving of students. First, in the mathematics textbook and workbook of 3rd grade, arithmetic word problem of multiplication and division suggested various things such as thought opening, activities, finish, and let's check. As per the semantic element, multiplication was classified into 5 types of cumulated addition of same number, rate, comparison, arrayal and combination while division was classified into 2 types of division into equal parts and division by equal part. According to result of analysis, the type of cumulated addition of same number was the most one for multiplication while 2 types of division into equal parts and division by equal part were evenly spread in division. Second, according to 1st test result of arithmetic word problem solving ability in the element of arithmetic operation meaning, 4th grade showed type of cumulated addition of same number as the highest correct answer ratio for multiplication. As for division, 4th grade showed 90% correct answer ratio in 4 questionnaires out of 5 questionnaires. And 2nd test showed arithmetic word problem solving ability in the element of arithmetic operation construction, as for multiplication and division, correct answer ratio was higher in the case that 4th grade students did not know the result than the case they did not know changed amount or initial amount. This was because the case of asking the result was suggested in the mathematics textbook and workbook and therefore, it was difficult for students to understand such questions as changed amount or initial amount which they did not see frequently. Therefore, it is required for students to experience more varied types of problems so that they can more easily recognize problems seen from a textbook and then, improve their understanding of problems and problem solving ability.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2011

This study is to review division of whole numbers which is dealt in the revised elementary mathematics textbook and manual for teacher. The textbook and manual for teachers are most important documents to teach mathematics. And they are important to the would-be teachers who study the elementary mathematics with such documents. Therefore the textbook and manual for teachers should have no errors. But I found they have some errors and problems regarding division of whole numbers. In this paper, I discuss the problems and suggest the alternative plans.