• Korean Journal of Mathematics
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.75-87
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• 2002

The shape derivative for the domain functional will be discussed in the situation of domain inclusion. Hadamard's shape structure is sought by using the material derivative in conjunction with the domain imbedding technique.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.59-76
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• 2005

We examined the relations between the score of the divergent thinking in mathematical (Mathematical Creative Problem Solving Ability Test; MCPSAT: Lee etc. 2003) and non-mathematical situations (Torrance Test of Creative Thinking Figural A; TTCT: adapted for Korea by Kim, 1999). Subjects in this study were 213 eighth grade students(129 males and 84 females). In the analysis of data, frequencies, percentiles, t-test and correlation analysis were used. The results of the study are summarized as follows; First, mathematically gifted students showed statistically significantly higher scores on the score of the divergent thinking in mathematical and non-mathematical situations than regular students. Second, female showed statistically significantly higher scores on the score of the divergent thinking in mathematical and non-mathematical situations than males. Third, there was statistically significant relationship between the score of the divergent thinking in mathematical and non-mathematical situations for middle students was r=.41 (p<.05) and regular students was r=.27 (p<.05). A test of statistical significance was conducted to test hypothesis. Fourth, the correlation between the score of the divergent thinking in mathematical and non-mathematical situations for mathematically gifted students was r=.11. There was no statistically significant relationship between the score of the divergent thinking in mathematical and non-mathematical situations for mathematically gifted students. These results reveal little correlation between the scores of the divergent thinking in mathematical and non-mathematical situations in both mathematically gifted students. Also but for the group of students of relatively mathematically gifted students it was found that the correlations between divergent thinking in mathematical and non-mathematical situations was near zero. This suggests that divergent thinking ability in mathematical situations may be a specific ability and not just a combination of divergent thinking ability in non-mathematical situations. But the limitations of this study as following: The sample size in this study was too few to generalize that there was a relation between the divergent thinking of mathematically gifted students in mathematical situation and non-mathematical situation.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.337-354
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• 2011

The purpose of the study was to investigate how students understand multiplication and division of fractions and how their understanding influences the solutions of fractional word problems. Thirteen students from 5th to 6th grades were involved in the study. Students' understanding of operations with fractions was categorized into "a part of the parts", "multiplicative comparison", "equal groups", "area of a rectangular", and "computational procedures of fractional multiplication (e.g., multiply the numerators and denominators separately)" for multiplications, and "sharing", "measuring", "multiplicative inverse", and "computational procedures of fractional division (e.g., multiply by the reciprocal)" for divisions. Most students understood multiplications as a situation of multiplicative comparison, and divisions as a situation of measuring. In addition, some students understood operations of fractions as computational procedures without associating these operations with the particular situations (e.g., equal groups, sharing). Most students tended to solve the word problems based on their semantic structure of these operations. Students with the same understanding of multiplication and division of fractions showed some commonalities during solving word problems. Particularly, some students who understood operations on fractions as computational procedures without assigning meanings could not solve word problems with fractions successfully compared to other students.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.9 no.1 s.21
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• pp.69-96
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• 2005

Motivation for learning is important for positive learning outcomes as well as for measured achievement levels. When students come to our classes, they bring with them learning histories in which we as individual teachers, most likely, did not have an input. Our students do not only bring with them different levels of prerequisite leanings but also different levels of affect for what they will be learning. If we leave their final learning at the mercy of these entry characteristics, a test given the first day before the course will have almost isomorphic results with their achievement levels on the last day. The ones who had 'it' on the first day will be the ones who in the future will also have 'it', not too different from what the present situation is all over the world. These circumstances will tend to be the case ad infinitum, unless of course, we want to change the situation. This research clearly shows that effective instructional methodologies coupled with cooperative peer interactions not only have an impact on achievement but also on positive attitudes toward one's learning.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.299-315
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• 2015

The aim of this qualitative case study is twofold: 1) to analyze how an eleventh-grader, Min-Seon, conceive and represent a pattern of change between two varying quantities in a quadratic functional situation, and 2) further to help her form a concept of 'derivative' as a tool to express the relationship with employing a concept of 'rate of change.' The result indicates that Min-Seon was able to construct graphs of piecewise functions that take average rates of change as range of the functions, and managed to conjecture the derivative of a quadratic function, $y=x^2$. In conclusion, we argue that covariational approach could not only facilitate students' construction of an initial function concept, but also support their understanding of the concept of 'derivative.'

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.133-143
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• 2009

In this thesis, we conduct a comprehensive analysis of the current situation and the inherent problems found in modern statistics education in Elementary School. There are statistical curriculum, 7th textbook of elementary school level, practise of statistics class, connection of real life etc. Through analysis of these given problem, we explore the future direction of statistical education. Therefore, the statistical learning to make statistical situations and pose problems based on students' interests and students-related situations should be an effects on positive mathematical attitude and statistical thinking which could develop understanding statistical problems and thinking.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.67-79
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• 2014

When imaginary numbers were first encountered in the 16th century, mathematicians were able to calculate the imaginary numbers the same as they are today. However, it required 200 years to mathematically acknowledge the existence of imaginary numbers. The new mathematical situation that arose with a development in mathematics required a harmony of real numbers and imaginary numbers. As a result, the concept of complex number became clear. A history behind the development of complex numbers involved a process of determining a comprehensive perspective that ties real numbers and imaginary numbers in a single category, complex numbers. This came after a resolution of conflict between real numbers and imaginary numbers. This study identified the new perspective and way of mathematical thinking emerging from resolving the conflicts. Also educational implications of the analysis were discussed.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-29
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• 2014

When taught the precise definition of ${\pi}$, students may be simply asked to memorize its approximate value without developing a rigorous understanding of the underlying reason of why it is a constant. Measuring the circumferences and diameters of various circles and calculating their ratios might just represent an attempt to verify that ${\pi}$ has an approximate value of 3.14, and will not necessarily result in an adequate understanding about the constant nor formally proves that it is a constant. In this study, we aim to investigate prospective teachers' conceptual understanding of ${\pi}$, and as a constant and whether they can provide a proof of its constant property. The findings show that prospective teachers lack a holistic understanding of the constant nature of ${\pi}$, and reveal how they teach students about this property in an inappropriate approach through a proving activity. We conclude our findings with a suggestion on how to improve the situation.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.46 no.2 s.117
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• pp.155-171
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• 2007

One second grader, Junsu, was observed 4 times before and after formal multiplication lesson in Grade 2. This study describes how solution strategies in multiplication problems develop over time and investigates awareness of the relation between situation and computation in simple measurement and partitive division problems as informally experienced. It was found that Junsu used additive calculation for small-number multiplication problems but could not solve large-number multiplication problems and that he did not have concept of mathematical terms at first interview stage. After formal teaching, Junsu learned a variety of multiplication solution strategies and transferred from additive calculation to multiplicative calculation. The cognitive processing load of each strategy was gradually reduced. Junsu experienced measurement division as a dealing strategy and partitive division as a estimate-adjust strategy dealing more than one object in the first round.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.15-25
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• 2001

The purpose of this thesis is to search the situation of an outbreak of the fallacy and methods of its treatment. We regard intuition as origins of genuine knowledge, but it sometimes raises the fallacy by intrinsic characters of itself. It makes an examination of the fallacy of the sense of sight like an optical illusion to instance that of sense. The sense of sight is an important factor in an intuitive cognition. However, its activity without thinking raises the fallacy of intuition in the process to observe and judge the things. I point out the fallacy of intuition which originates from terms and concepts in mathematical problems. The concept of mean velocity is representative. In this case, students make a mistake which means velocity can be solved by dividing the sum of v$_1$ and v$_2$ into two. The methods which overcome the fallacy of intuition are balance of intuition and logic, overcome of functional fixedness, the development of intuitive models and the development of metacognitive ability.