• The Mathematical Education
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.355-365
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to provide mathematical knowledge for supporting the didactical knowledge on circular measure and radian in the high school curriculum. We show that circular measure related to arcs can be mathematically justified as an angular measure and radian is a well defined concept to be able to reconcile the values of trigonometric functions and ones of circular functions, which are real variable functions. Radian has two-fold intrinsic attributes of angular measure and arc measure on the unit circle, in particular, the latter property plays a very important role in simplifying the trigonometric derivatives. To improve students's low academic achievement in trigonometry section, the useful advantage and the background over the introduction of radian should be preferentially taught and recognized to students. We suggest some teaching plans to practice in the class of elementary and middle school for enhancing teachers' and students' understanding of radian.