• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-21
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• 2019

Mathematics is one of the subjects in which learners seriously experience under-achievements in school education. Middle school level mathematics especially plays such a role as a bridge between elementary level informal mathematics and high school level formal mathematics that learners' under-achievements in the middle school level mathematics may yield more serious under-achievements later. Therefore it is crucial to prevent learners' later under-achievements that we analyze the status of under achievements including analysing various under-achievers' errors in the middle school level mathematics. From this point of view, we analysed errors of mathematics under-achievers in understanding the concept of the square root of positive numbers and related calculations in this paper. As the results of our research, we found some unexpected errors of 'some mathematics under-achievers regarding the mathematical symbol ${\surd}$ of square root as a parenthesis ( ), and others interpret $x=-2{\pm}{\sqrt{10}}$ as x=-2 or ${\pm}{\sqrt{10}}$.' that suggest the necessity of more various and in-depth discussions and researches of analysis on learners' errors and misconceptions in all areas of school mathematics.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.115-138
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• 1998

We seek the possibility of introduction of Fractals to the high school math. curriculum through identifying Fractals teaching programs appropriate for the scopes and sequences in math. education for the high school students. We presented the contents of Fractal theory suitable for the high school students. The following subjects were chosen to be introduced; self-similarity, Fractal dimension, Cantor set, Sierpinsky triangle, Sierpinsky carpel Koch curve, Koch island, perimeter estimate of rugged profiles drawn on paper, and chaos game. We developed the working papers and the criteria for appraisal. Each working paper focuses on the activities in which students can solve the given problems, understanding the characteristics and ideas of Fractals. The working papers were given to the second year students who take science course, and the degree of achievements were analyzed based on the appraisal criteria. The results show that it is possible to introduce Fractals to the high school students.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.153-163
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• 2007

Utilizing the quantitative analysis methodology of questionnaire, the study explores the differences in the factors of achievement motivation, learning mathematics attitude and learning mathematics self-confidence and also the relationship between mathematics academic achievement and these factors in three areas in China. The following conclusions are drawn: 1. The subjects from different development level areas have significant differences in motivation, attitude and self-confidence in mathematics; 2. The subjects from different areas who possess the same ethnic group have significant differences. But the subjects from same area who possess different nationalities have little difference. It can be concluded that that the differences in these factors can be contributed to regional differences, rather than to ethnic differences; 3. The subjects from undeveloped areas have significant gender differences, and the levels of males are higher than those of female.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.73-83
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• 2015

In this paper, we give answers to some interesting questions about a Confucian scholar and mathematician in the late Joseon Dynasty, CHOI Seok-Jeong(崔錫鼎, 1646-1715), who was inducted into the Science and Technology Hall of Fame (http://kast.or.kr/HALL) for his mathematical achievements in October, 2013. In particular, we discover that CHOI Seok-Jeong was able to devote his natural abilities and time to do research on mathematics, and that he frequently communicated with his friend and fellow scholar, LEE Se-Gu(李世龜, 1646-1700), who was an expert on the astronomical calendar and mathematics, based on at least 24 letters between the two.

• East Asian mathematical journal
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.131-146
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• 2020

The isoperimetric problem is a well-known optimization problem from ancient Greek. Among plane figures with the same perimeter, which is the largest area surrounded? The answer to the question is circle. Zenodorus and Steiner's pure geometric proofs, which left a lot of achievements in this matter, looked beautiful with ideas at that time. But there was a fatal flaw in the proof. The weakness is related to the existence of the solution. In this paper, from a view of the existence of the solution, we investigate proofs of Zenodorus and Steiner and get educational implications.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.10 no.2 s.26
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• pp.115-124
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• 2006

In order to optimize a learning effect in mathematics, the results of the educational assessment must be effectively used by both teachers and students. The teacher using technology to provide students with performance feedback is becoming more prevalent in educational contexts worldwide but concern arises over the form of that feedback and the effects it has upon students' achievements. Also, feedback takes considerable time for teachers but their instructional time is limited. For these reasons, it is a significant matter how to select items effectively in order to give feedback to students after an assessment. In this study, we introduce the systematic selection method of feedback items using the regression analysis in order to provide effective feedback to students by teachers.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.129-145
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to research and compare teachers' preferences for 'Great Math Class' by region and gender. The research was conducted on 261 high school math teachers by using non-probability sampling. As the results of the study, regional preference had no statistically significant difference in all four factors of 'Great Math Class' while gender preference had statistically significant difference only in the factor of teaching (methods) and learning methods. Both region and gender had statistically significant positive (+) relationship with preference for all four factors. This implies that it is necessary to consider socio-cultural factors rather than teachers' perception on class for regional differences in academic achievements in mathematics.

• East Asian mathematical journal
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.141-161
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• 2011

This research is a laboratory study for the improvement of differential equation class, and the aim of this study is to propose the possibilities of applicable writing activities for differential equation courses in university. We analyzed how the writing activities can affect the improvement of abilities of the students' affective domain and cognitive domain. Although the results from the two areas did not show a big numerical improvements it proved that the writing activities have positive effects, especially for the group of lower level students. The students felt interested and became more confident with differential equation studies. Their understanding of the study has been increased further by acquiring new learning methods, including writing activities. Therefore, we conclude that teaching and learning method designed systematically to adopt writing activities improve the students' learning attitudes and achievements.

• East Asian mathematical journal
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.333-351
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• 2017

Schools are expected to ultimately moderate the difference of inequality issues among social groups and reduce the achievement gaps. This study investigates this expectation, in particular, how students' mathematics achievements are influenced by their parents' education at the individual level and by collective responsibility for teaching at the school level as well as the interaction of the two. Using a two-level hierarchical linear model, this study indicates that a school collective responsibility has a larger positive effect on students' mathematics achievement when their parents' education level is high. This means that school's collective responsibility accelerates inequity in students' mathematics achievement. Knowing that collective responsibility has less of an effect on students whose parents' education is not high, researchers, schools, and school districts should continue to search for school effects that have more of a positive impact on the relationship between mathematics achievement for students whose parents' education is not high in order to have more equitable results for all students.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.45-63
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• 2022

Multicultural students are a rapidly growing population in South Korea. Previous studies from the South Korean mathematics education community have reported low mathematics achievement levels of this population compared to Korean-born students. However, a systematic literature review was hardly employed. This study aims to synthesize the factors that affect the mathematics achievement of multicultural students to provide directions for future research and practical directions. Using an Opportunity-Propensity framework suggested by Byrnes and Miller, this study analyzed twenty-seven peer-reviewed journal articles on this topic. The results showed that the majority of the studies focused on the impact of the opportunity factors such as mathematics curriculum and teachers on mathematics achievements. We suggest that more studies regarding distal factors (e.g., students' prior achievement) and propensity factors (e.g., prerequisite knowledge) are needed.