• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.325-344
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to investigate what influences students' preferences on empirical and deductive proofs and find their relations. Although empirical and deductive proofs have been seen as a significant aspect of school mathematics, literatures have indicated that students tend to have a preference for empirical proof when they are convinced a mathematical statement. Several studies highlighted students'views about empirical and deductive proof. However, there are few attempts to find the relations of their views about these two proofs. The study was conducted to 47 students in 7~9 grades in the transition from empirical proof to deductive proof according to their mathematics curriculum. The data was collected on the written questionnaire asking students to choose one between empirical and deductive proofs in verifying that the sum of angles in any triangles is $180^{\circ}$. Further, they were asked to provide explanations for their preferences. Students' responses were coded and these codes were categorized to find the relations. As a result, students' responses could be categorized by 3 factors; accuracy of measurement, representative of triangles, and mathematics principles. First, the preferences on empirical proof were derived from considering the measurement as an accurate method, while conceiving the possibility of errors in measurement derived the preferences on deductive proof. Second, a number of students thought that verifying the statement for three different types of triangles -acute, right, obtuse triangles - in empirical proof was enough to convince the statement, while other students regarded these different types of triangles merely as partial examples of triangles and so they preferred deductive proof. Finally, students preferring empirical proof thought that using mathematical principles such as the properties of alternate or corresponding angles made proof more difficult to understand. Students preferring deductive proof, on the other hand, explained roles of these mathematical principles as verification, explanation, and application to other problems. The results indicated that students' preferences were due to their different perceptions of these common factors.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.245-261
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• 1999

Proof is an essential characteristic of mathematics and as such should be a key component in mathematics education. But, teaching proof in school mathematics have been unsuccessful for many students. The traditional approach to proofs stresses formal logic and rigorous proof. Thus, most students have difficulties of the concept of proof and students' experiences with proof do not seem meaningful to them. However, different views of proof were asserted in the reassessment of the foundations of mathematics and the nature of mathematical truth. These different views of justification need to be reflected in demonstrative geometry classes. The purpose of this study is to characterize the types of students' justification in demonstrative geometry classes taught using dynamic software. The types of justification can be organized into three categories : empirical justification, deductive justification, and authoritarian justification. Empirical justification are based on evidence from examples, whereas deductive justification are based logical reasoning. If we assume that a strong understanding of demonstrative geometry is shown when empirical justification and deductive justification coexist and benefit from each other, then students' justification should not only some empirical basis but also use chains of deductive reasoning. Thus, interaction between empirical and deductive justification is important. Dynamic geometry software can be used to design the approach to justification that can be successful in moving students toward meaningful justification of ideas. Interactive geometry software can connect visual and empirical justification to higher levels of geometric justification with logical arguments in formal proof.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.419-438
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• 1999

This paper explored the impact of dynamic geometry software such as CabriII, GSP on student's understanding deductive justification, on the assumption that proof in school mathematics should be used in the broader, psychological sense of justification rather than in the narrow sense of deductive, formal proof. The following results have been drawn: Dynamic geometry provided positive impact on interacting between empirical justification and deductive justification, especially on understanding the necessity of deductive justification. And teacher in the computer environment played crucial role in reducing on difficulties in connecting empirical justification to deductive justification. At the beginning of the research, however, it was not the case. However, once students got intocul-de-sac in empirical justification and understood the need of deductive justification, they tried to justify deductively. Compared with current paper-and-pencil environment that many students fail to learn the basic knowledge on proof, dynamic geometry software will give more positive ffect for learning. Dynamic geometry software may promote interaction between empirical justification and edeductive justification and give a feedback to students about results of their own actions. At present, there is some very helpful computer software. However the presence of good dynamic geometry software can not be the solution in itself. Since learning on proof is a function of various factors such as curriculum organization, evaluation method, the role of teacher and student. Most of all, the meaning of proof need to be reconceptualized in the future research.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.385-402
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• 2001

The purpose of this study is to conceptualize 'proof' school mathematics. We based on the assumption the following. (a) There are several different roles of 'proof' : verification, explanation, systematization, discovery, communication (b) Accepted criteria for the validity and rigor of a mathematical 'proof' is decided by negotiation of school mathematics community. (c) There are dynamic relations between mathematical proof and empirical theory. We need to rethink the nature of mathematical proof and give appropriate consideration to the different types of proof related to the cognitive development of the notion of proof. 'proof' in school mathematics should be conceptualized in the broader, psychological sense of justification rather than in the narrow sense of deductive, formal proof 'proof' has not been taught in elementary mathematics, traditionally, Most students have had little exposure to the ideas of proof before the geometry. However, 'proof' cannot simply be taught in a single unit. Rather, proof must be a consistent part of students' mathematical experience in all grades, in all mathematics.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.75-92
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• 2024

Mathematical argument has been given much attention in the research literature as a mediating construct between reasoning and proof. However, there have been relatively less efforts made in the research that examined the nature of empirical arguments represented in textbooks and how students perceive them as proofs. Cases of point include Intermediate Value Theorem [IVT] and Maximum-Minimum theorem [MMT] in grade 11 in Korea. In this study, using Toulmin's framework (1958), the author analyzed the substance of the empirical arguments provided for both MMT and IVT to draw comparisons between the nature of datum, claims, and warrants among empirical arguments offered in textbooks. Also, an online survey was administered to learn about how students view as proofs the empirical arguments provided for MMT and IVT. Results indicate that nearly half of students tended to accept the empirical arguments as proofs. Implications are discussed to suggest alternative approaches for teaching MMT and IVT.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.159-175
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• 2006

This paper that explain exchange rate determination using Korea's economy data moment investigate whether each theory cause effect that is some on exchange rate showdown analyzing actual proof relation between foreign exchange fluctuation and financing part variance examine wish to. Because korea economic enters in the 1990s and the 2000s and the change is notable, foreign exchange fluctuation by such change is real condition that is changing. In this paper, I wish to enforce actual proof analysis if change such as him is grasped by form that is some about foreign exchange fluctuation. First, the second chapter investigates exchange rate decision theory that is used on actual proof interpretation, and executes actual proof Test in reply in subsequent the third chapter. And finally, the fourth chapter wishes to drive conclusion of this paper.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.217-233
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to describe how dynamic geometry systems can be useful in proof activity; teaching sequences based on the use of dynamic geometry systems and to analyze the possible roles of dynamic geometry systems in both teaching and learning of proof. And also dynamic geometry environments can generate powerful interplay between empirical explorations and formal proofs. The point of this study was to show that how using dynamic geometry software can provide an opportunity to link between empirical and deductive reasoning, and how such software can be utilized to gain insight into a deductive argument.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.135-148
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• 2011

Middle school mathematics treats axiom as mere fact verified by experiment or observation and doesn't mention it axiom. But axiom is very important to understand the difference between empirical verification and mathematical proof, intuitive geometry and deductive geometry, proof and nonproof. This study analysed textbooks and surveyed gifted students' conception of axiom. The results showed the problem and limitation of middle school mathematics on the treatment of axiom and proof.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.65-89
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• 2022

Despite its recognition in the field of mathematics education and mathematics, students' understanding about proof and performance on proof tasks have been far from promising. Research has documented that teachers tend to accept empirical arguments as proofs. In this study, an online survey was administered to examine how Korean secondary mathematic teachers make judgements on mathematical arguments varied along representations. The results indicate that, when asked to judge how convincing to their students the given arguments would be, the teachers tended to consider how likely students understand the given arguments and this surfaces as a controversial matter with the algebraic argument being both most and least convincing for their students. The teachers' judgements on the algebraic argument were shown to have statistically significant difference with respect to convincingness to them, convincingness to their students, and validity as mathematical proof.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.85-99
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• 2003

In this paper, firstly examined various proofs types that cover informal empirical justifications by Balacheff, Miyazaki, and Harel ＆ Sowder and Tall. Using these theoretical frameworks, justification activities by 5th graders were analyzed and several conclusions were drawn as follow: 1) Children in 5th grade could justify using various proofs types and method ranged from external proofs schemes by Harel & Sowder to thought experiment by Balacheff This implies that children in elementary school can justify various mathematical statements of ideas for themselves. To improve children's proving abilities, rich experience for justifying should be provided. 2) Activities that make conjectures from cases then justify should be given to students in order to develop a sense of necessity of formal proof. 3) Children have to understand the meaning and usage of mathematical symbol to advance to formal deductive proofs. 4) New theoretical framework is needed to be established to provide a framework for research on elementary school children's justification activities. Research on proof mainly focused on the type of proof in terms of reasoning and activities involved. But proof types are also influenced by the tasks given. In elementary school, tasks that require physical activities or examples are provided. To develop students'various proof types, tasks that require various justification methods should be provided. 5) Children's justification type were influenced not only by development level but also by the concept they had. 6) Justification activities provide useful situation that assess students'mathematical understanding. 7) Teachers understanding toward role of proof(verification, explanation, communication, discovery, systematization) should be the starting point of proof activities.