• East Asian mathematical journal
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.565-587
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to analyze the understanding of the meaning of fraction division and fraction division algorithm of elementary mathematical gifted students through the process of problem posing and solving activities. For this goal, students were asked to pose more than two real-world problems with respect to the fraction division of ${\frac{3}{4}}{\div}{\frac{2}{3}}$, and to explain the validity of the operation ${\frac{3}{4}}{\div}{\frac{2}{3}}={\frac{3}{4}}{\times}{\frac{3}{2}}$ in the process of solving the posed problems. As the results, although the gifted students posed more word problems in the 'inverse of multiplication' and 'inverse of a cartesian product' situations compared to the general students and pre-service elementary teachers in the previous researches, most of them also preferred to understanding the meaning of fractional division in the 'measurement division' situation. Handling the fractional division by converting it into the division of natural numbers through reduction to a common denominator in the 'measurement division', they showed the poor understanding of the meaning of multiplication by the reciprocal of divisor in the fraction division algorithm. So we suggest following: First, instruction on fraction division based on various problem situations is necessary. Second, eliciting fractional division algorithm in partitive division situation is strongly recommended for helping students understand the meaning of the reciprocal of divisor. Third, it is necessary to incorporate real-world problem posing tasks into elementary mathematics classroom for fostering mathematical creativity as well as problem solving ability.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.283-304
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• 2019

This paper investigates what informal knowledge and strategies fifth-grade students brought to a classroom and how much they had potential to solve fraction division story problems. The findings show that most of the participants were engaged to understand the meaning of fraction division prior to their formal instruction at school. In order to solve the story problems, the informal knowledge related to fractions as well as division was actively utilized in student's strategies and justification. Students also used various informal strategies from mental calculation, direct modeling, to relational thinking. Formal instructions about fraction division at schools can be facilitated for sense-making of this complex fraction division conception by unpacking informal knowledge and thinking they might bring to the classrooms.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 2003

Representation has been main topic in teaching and learning mathematics for a long time. Moreover, teachers' deficiency of representation about fraction results in teaching algorithms without conceptual understanding. So, this paper was conducted to investigate and analysize the elementary preservice mathematics teachers' representation about fraction. 38 elementary preservice mathematics teachers participated in this study. This study results showed that, the only model of a fraction that was familiar to the preservice teachers was the part of whole one. And research showed that, they solved the problems about fraction well using algorithms but seldom express the sentence which illustrates the meaning of the operation by a fraction. Specially, the division aspect of a fraction was not familiar nor readily accepted. It menas that preservice teachers are used to using algorithms without a conceptual understanding of the meaning of the operation by a fraction. This results give us some implications. Most of all, teaching programs in preservice mathematics teachers education have to devise to form a network among the concepts in relation to fraction. And we must emphasize how to teach and what to teach in preservice mathematics teachers education course. Finally, we have to invent the various materials which can be used to educate both preservice teachers and elementary school students. If we want to improve the mathematical ability of students, we will concentrate preservice teachers education.

• School Mathematics
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.71-91
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to analyze operation sense in detail with regard to division of fraction. For this purpose, two sixth grade students who were good at calculation were clinically interviewed three times. The analysis was focused on (a) how the students would understand the multiple meanings and models of division of fraction, (b) how they would recognize the meaning of algorithm related to division of fraction, and (c) how they would employ the meanings and properties of operation in order to translate them into different modes of representation as well as to develop their own strategies. This paper includes several episodes which reveal students' qualitative difference in terms of various dimensions of operation sense. The need to develop operation sense is suggested specifically for upper grades of elementary school.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.103-113
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• 2000

A case study was conducted to investigate the understandings of the subject matter knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge held by 63 elementary preservice teachers in dealing with the division by a fraction. The study results showed that, in terms of the subject matter knowledge, the preservice teachers did not have a conceptual understanding of the division by a fraction and, in terms of the pedagogical content knowledge, they depended heavily on algorithms without a conceptual understanding of the meaning of the division by a fraction.

• East Asian mathematical journal
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.379-396
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• 2022

In this paper, we investigate distribution strategies in the Egyptian fraction, and through this, we examine the distribution strategies of (fraction)÷(fraction) and then provide some educational implications. The (natural number)÷(natural number) of the sharing situation has the meaning of 'share' per unit, which can be seen as a situation where the unit ratio is determined. These concepts can also naturally be extended to the case of (fraction)÷(fraction) by some problem posing situations. That is to say, the case of (fraction)÷(fraction) can be deduced the case (natural number)÷(natural number) by the re-statement of the problem.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.105-122
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• 2014

In this paper, fraction division algorithms in Korean elementary mathematics textbooks are analyzed as a part of the groundwork to improve teaching methods for fraction division algorithms. There are seemingly six fraction division algorithms in ${\ll}Math\;5-2{\gg}$, ${\ll}Math\;6-1{\gg}$ textbooks according to the 2006 curriculum. Four of them are standard algorithms which show the multiplication by the reciprocal of the divisors modally. Two non-standard algorithms are independent algorithms, and they have weakness in that the integration to the algorithms 8 is not easy. There is a need to reconsider the introduction of the algorithm 4 in that it is difficult to think algorithm 4 is more efficient than algorithm 3. Because (natural number)${\div}$(natural number)=(natural number)${\times}$(the reciprocal of a natural number) is dealt with in algorithm 2, it can be considered to change algorithm 7 to algorithm 2 alike. In textbooks, by converting fraction division expressions into fraction multiplication expressions through indirect methods, the principles of calculation which guarantee the algorithms are explained. Method of using the transitivity, method of using the models such as number bars or rectangles, method of using the equivalence are those. Direct conversion from fraction division expression to fraction multiplication expression by handling the expression is possible, too, but this is beyond the scope of the curriculum. In textbook, when dealing with (natural number)${\div}$(proper fraction) and converting natural numbers to improper fractions, converting natural numbers to proper fractions is used, but it has been never treated officially.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.385-403
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• 2018

Fraction division can be categorized as partitive division, measurement division, and the inverse of a Cartesian product. In the contexts of quotitive division and the inverse of a Cartesian product, the multiply-by-the-reciprocal algorithm is drawn well out. In this study, I analyze the potential and significance of the method of using $1{\div}$(divisor) as an alternative way of developing the multiply-by-the-reciprocal algorithm in the context of quotitive division. The method of using $1{\div}$(divisor) in quotitive division has the following advantages. First, by this method we can draw the multiply-by-the-reciprocal algorithm keeping connection with the context of quotitive division. Second, as in other contexts, this method focuses on the multiplicative relationship between the divisor and 1. Third, as in other contexts, this method investigates the multiplicative relationship between the divisor and 1 by two kinds of reasoning that use either ${\frac{1}{the\;denominator\;of\;the\;divisor}}$ or the numerator of the divisor as a stepping stone. These advantages indicates the potential of this method in understanding the multiply-by-the-reciprocal algorithm as the common structure of fraction division. This method is based on the dual meaning of a fraction as a quantity and the composition of times which the current elementary mathematics textbook does not focus on. It is necessary to pay attention to how to form this basis when developing teaching materials for fraction division.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.8 no.2 s.16
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• pp.97-113
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to develop instructional methods for the formalized algorithm through informal knowledge in teaching division of fractions. The following results have been drawn from this study: First, before students learn formal knowledge about division of fractions, they knowledge or strategies to solve problems such as direct modeling strategies, languages to reason mathematically, and using operational expressions. Second, students could solve problems using informal knowledge which is based on partitioning. But they could not solve problems as the numbers involved in problems became complex. In the beginning, they could not reinvent invert-and-multiply rule only by concrete models. However, with the researcher's guidance, they can understand the meaning of a reciprocal number by using concrete models. Moreover, they had an ability to apply the pattern of solving problems when dividend is 1 into division problems of fractions when dividend is fraction. Third, instructional activities were developed by using the results of the teaching experiment performed in the second research step. They consist of student's worksheets and teachers' guides. In conclusion, formalizing students' informal knowledge can make students understand formal knowledge meaningfully and it has a potential that promote mathematical thinking. The teaching-learning activities developed in this study can be an example to help teachers formalize students' informal knowledge.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.135-157
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• 2023

Double scale models have been introduced in elementary mathematics textbooks under the 2015 revised mathematics curriculum. However, few studies have examined in detail how students understand or utilize such models. In this study, we analyzed how 154 sixth-grade students who had learned the division of fractions from textbooks containing double scale models understood such models. The results showed that the students tended to identify the components of the model relatively well, but had difficulties exploring the unit or the meaning of the bottom number line of a model. They also had a lot of difficulties using the double scale model to complete the computation process and explain the computation principle. Based on these findings, we discuss the implications of teaching double scale models.