• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.351-362
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• 2012

Until the 1950s, linear algebra was considered only as one of abstract and advanced mathematics subject among in graduate mathematics courses, mainly dealing with module in algebra. Since the 1960s, it has been a main subject in undergraduate mathematics education because matrices has been used all over. In Korea, it was considered as a course only for mathematics major students until 1980s. However, now it is a subject for all undergraduate students including natural science, engineering, social science since 1990s. In this paper, we investigate the early history of linear algebra and its development from a historical perspective and mathematicians who made contributions. Secondly, we explain why linear algebra became so popular in college mathematics education in the late 20th century. Contributions of Chinese and H. Grassmann will be extensively examined with many newly discovered facts.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.139-152
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• 2017

In this paper, we examine how secondary school mathematics textbooks on calculus introduce the history of calculus. In order to identify the problem, we consider the Babylonian integration by trapezoidal rule, which was made to calculate the location of Jupiter in 350-50 B.C., and the integration by the method of the rotating plate of ibn al-Haytham in Egypt, about 1000 years. In conclusion, our secondary school mathematics textbooks describe Newton and Leibniz as inventing calculus and place their roots in ancient Greece. The origin of the calculus is in Babylonia and the Faṭimah Dynasty (909-1171) (Egypt) and it is desirable that the calculus is developed in Europe after the development of the power series in India, and that the value of Asia Africa is introduced in the textbooks.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.171-199
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• 2022

In this study, we review contents to supplement the descriptions of the history of mathematics in the 2015 mathematics textbooks and teacher guides for the elementary school level and offer our opinion on them. For this purpose, we conducted a literature review on 24 types of 2015 mathematics textbooks and teacher guides for the elementary school level. The results of this study are as follows: A total of 10 topics were found whose contents were supplemented with descriptions. They were the "Arithmetic of the Ancient Egyptians," the "A'h-mosè Papyrus in Mathematics Textbooks of the Ancient Egyptians," "The Old Akkadian Square Band in Mesopotamia," "The Relationship of the Old Babylonians in Mesopotamia with the Angle," "The Pi of the Ancient Egyptians and the Old Babylonians," "The Square Roots 2 of the Ancient Egyptians and the Old Babylonians," "The Relationship of the Islamites with the Decimal Fraction," "Two Arguments for the Roots of the Golden Ratio," "The Relationship of Archimedes with the Exhaustion Method," and "The Design of Flats." Then, their specific supplements were suggested. It is expected that this will overcome the perspective of the history of the Axial Age and acknowledge and accept the perspective evidencing the transfer of mathematical culture from Ancient Egypt and Old Babylonia to Ancient Greece and Hellenism, and then through Central Asia to Europe.