• The Mathematical Education
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.481-501
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• 2003

The main purpose of this work is to propose programs of algebra courses for the department of mathematics education of teacher training universities. Set Theory, Linear Algebra, Number Theory, Abstract Algebra I, Abstract Algebra II, and Philosophy of Mathematics for School Teachers are discussed in this article.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.19 no.4 s.24
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• pp.599-620
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• 2005

There can be two different approaches to introducing Abstract Algebra to undergraduate students: One is to introduce group concept prior to ring concept, and the other is to do the other way around. Although the former is almost conventional, it is worth while to take the latter into consideration in the viewpoint that students are already familiar to rings of integers and polynomials. In this paper, we investigated 16 most commonly used Abstract Algebra undergraduate textbooks and found that 5 of them introduce ring theory prior to group theory while the rest do the other way around. In addition, we interviewed several undergraduate students who already have taken an Abstract Algebra course to look into which approach they prefer. Then we compare pros and cons of two approaches on the basis of the results of the interview and the historico-genetic principle of teaching and learning in Abstract Algebra and suggest that it certainly be one of alternatives to introduce ring theory before group theory in its standpoint.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.1131-1148
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• 2009

Algebra is one of the important subjects that not only mathematics but many science major students should know at least at the elementary level. Unfortunately abstract algebra, specially, is seen as an extremely difficult course to learn. One reason of difficulties is because of its very abstract nature, and the other is due to the lecture method that simply telling students about mathematical contents. In this paper we study about the teaching and learning abstract algebra in universities in corporation of a programming language such as ISETL. ISETL is a language whose syntax closely imitates that of mathematics. In asking students to read and write code in ISETL before they learn in class, we observe that students can much understand and construct formal statements that express a precise idea. We discuss about the classroom activities that may help students to construct and internalize mathematical ideas, and also discuss about some barriers we might overcome.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.44 no.4 s.111
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• pp.547-563
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• 2005

There have been many papers reporting that the axiomatic approach in Abstract Algebra is a big obstacle to overcome for the students who are not trained to think in an abstract way. Therefore an instructor must seek for ways to help students grasp mathematical concepts in Abstract Algebra and select the ones suitable for students. Mathematics faculty and students generally consider Abstract Algebra in general and quotient groups in particular to be one of the most troublesome undergraduate subjects. For, an individual's knowledge of the concept of group should include an understanding of various mathematical properties and constructions including groups consisting of undefined elements and a binary operation satisfying the axioms. Even if one begins with a very concrete group, the transition from the group to one of its quotient changes the nature of the elements and forces a student to deal with elements that are undefined. In fact, we also have found through running abstract algebra courses for several years that students have considerable difficulty in understanding the concept of quotient groups. Based on the above observation, we explore and analyze the nature of students' knowledge about $Z_n$ that is the set of congruence classes modulo n. Applying the genetic decomposition method, we propose a model to lead students to achieve the correct concept of $Z_n$.

• Journal of the Korean Mathematical Society
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.1031-1056
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• 2005

In this paper, we define the conditional first variation over Wiener paths in abstract Wiener space and investigate its properties. Using these properties, we also investigate relationships among first variation, conditional first variation, Fourier-Feynman transform and conditional Fourier-Feynman transforms of functions in a Banach algebra which is equivalent to the Fresnel class. Finally, we provide another method evaluating the Fourier-Feynman transform for the product of a function in the Banach algebra with n linear factors.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.129-144
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is what exactly De Morgan contributed to abstract algebra and mathematical logic. He recognised the purely symbolic nature of algebra and was aware of the existence of algebras other than ordinary algebra. He madealgebra as a science by introducing the ordered field and made the base for abstract algebra. He was one of the reformer of classical mathematical logic. Looking into De Morgan's works, we made it clear that the developments of algebra and mathematical logic in 19C.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.21-31
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• 1999

This paper deals with the development of universal algebras. We first investigate how the abstract algebra has emerged as a common generalization of arithmetic and algebra of logic, which was finalized by A. N. Whitehead in his "A treatise on universal algebra with applications." And we investigate also the process of formalizing universal algebras by G. Birkhoff. Birkhoff.

• Communications of the Korean Mathematical Society
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.77-90
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• 2000

In this paper, we will establish the existence theorem of the operator valued function space integral over paths in abstract Wiener space under the general conditions rather than the known conditions.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.10 no.3 s.27
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• pp.169-187
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• 2006

Ubiquitous errors in algebra like $(x+y)^2=x^2+y^2$ are a constant reminder that most students' manipulation of algebraic symbols has become detached from structural principles. The U.S. mathematics education community (NCTM, 2000) has responded by shying away from algebra as a structural study, preferring instead to ground meaning in empirical domains of reference. A new analysis of such errors shows that students' detachment from structural meaning stems from an inadequate structural curriculum, not from the inherent difficulty of adopting an abstract perspective on expressions and equations. A structural curriculum is outlined that preserves the possibility of students' engaging fully with algebra as both an empirical and a structural study.

• Journal of the Korean Mathematical Society
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.967-990
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• 2006

In this paper, we evaluate first variations, conditional first variations and conditional Fourier-Feynman transforms of cylinder type functions over Wiener paths in abstract Wiener space and then, investigate relationships among first variation, conditional first variation, Fourier-Feynman transform and conditional Fourier-Feynman transform of those functions. Finally, we derive the conditional Fourier-Feynman transform for the product of cylinder type function which defines the functions in a Banach algebra introduced by Yoo, with n linear factors.