• East Asian mathematical journal
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.355-392
• /
• 2013

Generally school algebra is to start with introducing variables and algebraic expressions, which have major cognitive obstacles to students in the transfer from arithmetic to algebra. But the recent studies in the teaching school algebra argue the algebraic thinking from an early algebraic point of view. We compare the Korean elementary mathematics textbooks with Americans from this perspective. First, we discuss the history of school algebra in the school curriculum. And Second, we investigate the recent studies in relation to early algebra. We clarify the goals of this study(the importance of early algebra in the elementary school) through these discussions. Next we examine closely the number sense in the arithmetic and the symbol sense in the algebra. And we conclude that the operation sense can connect these senses within early algebra using the algebraic thinking. Finally, we compare the elementary mathematics books between Korean and American according to the components of the operation sense. In this comparative study, we identify a possibility of teaching algebraic thinking in the elementary mathematics and early algebra can be introduced to the elementary mathematics textbooks from aspects of the operation sense.

• The Mathematical Education
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.265-289
• /
• 2001

The elementary and middle school curriculum in Korea has been modified periodically to reach today's 7th national curriculum. Although the intent of each new curriculum was to improve education, lack of proper preparation for teachers and students has not made the new curriculums as effective as it could be. Goodlad et al.(1979) suggested that curriculum should encompass all practices including not only knowledge but all the elements of the curriculum and experiences of the student and teachers. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the actual practices of the current curriculum with focus on the use of instructional media in mathematics teaching and learning. A nationwide curriculum survey was carried out with the Goodlad's curriculum inquiry model as the framework. The result shows that elementary and secondary mathematics teachers used textbook manual (for teachers) and practice books most frequently for their class preparation. In addition to these, mathematics teachers also used manipulatives, visual aids, computers, internet, and calculators in a decreasing order. In general, many mathematics teachers did not use much instructional media in their classes and said that there are not enough effective instructional media to use. However, the teachers have positive attitude toward the educational media that they have used. In this study, we analyzed the survey data regarding educational tools, their use and effects to support the development of a new curriculum model in mathematics for a knowledge-based society.

• School Mathematics
• /
• v.4 no.3
• /
• pp.463-481
• /
• 2002

In this paper, I review the historical background of "the principle of the permanence of equivalent forms" and sum- marize properties of "the principle of the permanence of equivalent forms" as a kind of heuristic. 1 think that "the principle of the permanence of equivalent forms" can be used effectively for student's discovery of the algebraic structure. There are three ways of using "the principle of the permanence of equivalent forms" in extending number system - an extension on the base of set theory(SMSC), the formal or axiomatic extrapolation and the inductive-extrapolatory method. All those three methods are mixed up and being used potentially at various levels in current Korean text books. "The principle of the permanence of equivalent forms" is used most effectively in the subject of the exponent. 1 try to present a situation that makes the students find more general definition and cultivate their desirable attitudes for the mathematics in the process of extending the exponent through summarizing the debate between Goel & Robillard(1997) and Tirosh S, Even(1997).

• Journal for History of Mathematics
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.23-32
• /
• 2004

In this paper, Ive investigated algebraic concepts which are contained in Euclid's Elements. In the Books II, V, and VII∼X of Elements, there are concepts of quadratic equation, ratio, irrational numbers, and so on. We also analyzed them for mathematical meaning with modem symbols and terms. From this, we can find the essence of the genesis of algebra, and the implications for students' mathematization through the experience of the situation where mathematics was made at first.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.221-247
• /
• 2008

In order to find the structure and scheme of basic mathematics education in life and nano-related areas in university, I've studied how much the freshmen in those fields in the university know about the graphic expressions for the basic functions(quadratic function, rational function, irrational function, log function and trigonometric function), basic information contained in those graphs and basic high school mathematics. Also, I've examined mathematics used in books for majors related to those areas. The result of the study shows that there is a lack of understanding of the graphic expressions for basic functions, information contained in those graphs and basic high school mathematics. I've also found out that there is a difference in the amount and depth of mathematics used in each major in life and nano-related areas. According to the result of this study, the amount of understanding of freshmen with each major in basic high school mathematics needs to be reflected in structuring basic mathematics education in life and nano-related areas in university, and the amount and dept of content of mathematics should be considered in each major.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.441-457
• /
• 2014

This study starts with the idea that Korean mathematical word 'byon' which means 'side' of polygons or angles is very ambiguous. The purpose of this study is to make the concept and range of 'byon' clear and to suggest the ideas which can help children understand the concept of 'byon'. For this, various dictionary and the past Korean mathematics curriculums are reviewed. As a result, two attributes 'byon' has are identified and some reasons which block children from understanding 'byon' are detected in its introduction method of mathematics text books and inkhorn of the mathematical term. Finally, two different ideas for helping children understand the concept 'byon' are suggested based on the conclusion of this research.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.1-14
• /
• 2009

Since western mathematics and astronomy had been introduced in Chosun dynasty in the 17th century, most of Chosun mathematicians studied Shu li jing yun(數理精蘊) for the western mathematics. In the last two decades of the 19th century, Chosun scholars have studied them which were introduced by Japanese text books and western missionaries. The former dealt mostly with elementary arithmetic and the latter established schools and taught mathematics. Lee Sang Seol(1870~1917) is well known in Korea as a Confucian scholar, government official, educator and foremost Korean independence movement activist in the 20th century. He was very eager to acquire western civilizations and studied them with the minister H. B. Hulbert(1863~1949). He wrote a mathematics book Su Ri(數理, 1898-1899) which has two parts. The first one deals with the linear part(線部) and geometry in Shu li jing yun and the second part with algebra. Using Su Ri, we investigate the process of transmission of western mathematics into Chosun in the century and show that Lee Sang Seol built a firm foundation for the study of algebra in Chosun.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.155-164
• /
• 2014

Tianyuanshu and Zengcheng Kaifangfa introduced in the Song-Yuan dynasties and their contribution to the theory of equations are one of the most important achievements in the history of Chinese mathematics. Furthermore, they became the most fundamental subject in the history of East Asian mathematics as well. The operations, or the mathematical structure of polynomials have been overlooked by traditional mathematics books. Investigation of GuIlJib (九一集) of Joseon mathematician Hong JeongHa reveals that Hong's approach to polynomials is highly structural. For the expansion of $\prod_{k=11}^{n}(x+a_k)$, Hong invented a new method which we name Hong JeongHa's synthetic expansion. Using this, he reveals that the processes in Zhengcheng Kaifangfa is not synthetic division but synthetic expansion.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.367-385
• /
• 2004

This study intends to compare the way of introducing fractions in elementary mathematics textbooks of south and those of north Korea. After thorough investigations of the seven differences were identified. First, the mathematics textbooks of south Korea use concrete materials like apples when they introduce equal partition context, while those of north Korea do not use that kind of concrete materials. Second, in the textbooks of south Korea, equal partition of discrete quantities are considered after continuous ones are introduced. This is different from the approach of the north Korean text-books in which both quantities are regarded at the same time. Third, the quantitative fraction which refers to the rational number with unit of measure at the end of it, is hardly used in the textbooks of south. However, the textbooks of north Korea use it as the main representations of fractions. Fourth, in the textbooks of south Korea, vanous activities related to fractions are more emphasized, while in the textbooks of north Korea, various meanings of fractions textbooks from south and north Korea focused on the ways of introducing partition approach and equivalence relation as operational schemes of fractions, the following play an important role before defining fraction. Fifth, the textbooks of south Korea introduce equivalent fractions with number one using number bar, and do not consider the reason why that sort of fractions are regarded. On the contrary, the textbooks of north Korea introduce structural equivalence relation by using various contexts including length measure and volume measure situations. Sixth, whereas real-life contexts are provided for introducing equivalent fractions in the textbooks of south Korea, visual explanations and mathematical representations play an important role in the textbooks of north Korea. Seventh, the means of finding equivalent fractions are provided directly in the textbooks of south Korea, whereas the nature of equivalent fractions and the methods of making equivalent fractions are considered in the textbooks of north Korea.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.319-345
• /
• 2009

Nowadays the researches on the reading materials about Mathematics are emphasized and quitely active. But most researches have just proposed the lists of books or materials of the reading activities in Mathematics. Therefore we choose the subject for this study as the analysis of the characteristic attitudes about Mathematics for 3-leveled (high, middle, low) high-school students who have studied Mathematics using the reading activities. After the applications of reading activities for leveled students, we have the following results. For the low-leveled students, the high-leveled(=difficult to understand) reading materials may loose the confidence and interest about Mathematics. The appropriate reading materials for leveled students will increase the interest and change the attitude about Mathematics. We expect that the reading activities in Mathematics extend the logical and rational thinking power that our society has required.