• Journal of Science Education
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.247-256
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• 2021

Visual representation has been a useful tool in mathematical problem solving because it vividly express and structure the variables in the problem. But its effects may vary according to the types of problems. So, this study analyzes the survey results on the 5^th graders' visual representations using questionnaire consisting of the routine problems and the non-routine problems. The results are follows: The rate of correct answers in routine problems was higher than that of the non-routine problems. Even though the subjects were asked to solve the problem using visual representations, the ratio of solving the problem using the numerical expression was high in the routine problems. On the other hand, the rate of solving the problem using visual representation was high in the non-routine problems. The number of respondents who used visual representation in the non-routine problems was twice as many as that of the routine problems. But, among the subjects who used visual representation in the non-routine problems, the proportion of incorrect answers was also high, which resulted in using visual pictures. So, it is necessary to provide an experience that can use various types of the visual representations for problem solving and pay attention to the process of converting problems into visual representations.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aviation and Aeronautics
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.42-55
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• 2014

The purpose of this research was to identify expertise in ait traffic control by using cognitive skill analysis for novices and experts in routine and non-routine situations. The result of study was to understand expertise in air traffic control tasks in terms of what cognitive processes are responsible for the expert's high performance levels. The problem solving task was difficult for novices, but performed relatively automatically by experts in a routine situation. The difficulty could indicate the presence of controlled processing. Rather than rules and strategies, novices focused more on environmental factors, which merely increase cognitive load. In a non-routine situation, novices showed that they did not categorize the information consistently and alternative resources were not available for them. Experts, however, performed automatically a task by arranging and organizing information related to problem solving components in contexts without regard to a routine and non-routine situation. Especially experts developed a stable representation and directed alternative resources for air traffic flow and efficiency. Based on the results, cognitive processes of experts could be useful to understand expert performance and analyze the learning process, which imply the necessity of developing expertise systematically.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.9 no.1 s.21
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• pp.25-45
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• 2005

Background Phenomenography suggests that more variation is associated with wider ways of experiencing phenomena. In the discipline of mathematics, broadening the 'lived space' of mathematics learning might enhance students' ability to solve mathematics problems Aims The aim of the present study is to: 1. enhance secondary school students' capabilities for dealing with mathematical problems; and 2. examine if students' conception of mathematics can thereby be broadened. Sample 410 Secondary 1 students from ten schools participated in the study and the reference group consisted of 275 Secondary 1 students. Methods The students were provided with non-routine problems in their normal mathematics classes for one academic year. Their attitudes toward mathematics, their conceptions of mathematics, and their problem-solving performance were measured both at the beginning and at the end of the year. Results and conclusions Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that the problem-solving performance of students receiving non-routine problems improved more than that of other students, but the effect depended on the level of use of the non-routine problems and the academic standards of the students. Thus, use of non-routine mathematical problems that appropriately fits students' ability levels can induce changes in their lived space of mathematics learning and broaden their conceptions of mathematics and of mathematics learning.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.361-380
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• 2010

Some 400 Secondary One (i.e. seventh-grade) students from 10 schools were provided with non-routine mathematical problems in their normal mathematics classes as exercises for one academic year. Their attitudes toward mathematics, their conceptions of mathematics and their problem-solving performance were measured both in the beginning and at the end of the year. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that the introduction of an appropriate dose of non-routine problems would generate some effects on the students' conceptions of mathematics. A medium dose of non-routine problems (as reported by the teachers) would result in a change of the students' conception of mathematics to perceiving mathematics as less of "a subject of calculables." On the other hand, a high dose would lead students to perceive mathematics as more useful and more as a discipline involving thinking. However, with a low dose of non-routine problems, students found mathematics more "friendly" (free from fear). It is therefore proposed that the use of non-routine mathematical problems to an appropriate extent can induce changes in students' "lived space" of mathematics learning and broaden their conceptions of mathematics and mathematics learning.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.39-51
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• 2010

The purpose of this article is to study students' responses to non-routine problems which are presented by using solely numerals or symbolic figures. Such figures have no mathematical meaning but just symbolical meaning. Most students understand geometric figures more concrete objects than numerals because geometric figures such as circles and squares can be visualized by the manipulatives in real life. And since students need not consider (unvisible) any operational structure of numerals when they deal with (visible) figures, problems proposed using figures are considered relatively easier to them than those proposed using numerals. Under this assumption, we analyze students' problem solving processes of numeral problems and figural problems, and then find out when students' difficulties arise in the problem solving process and how they response when they feel difficulties. From this experiment, we will suggest several comments which would be considered in the development and application of both numerical and figural problems.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.179-191
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• 2008

Although problem solving was a major focus of mathematics education research in many countries throughout the 1990s, not enough is known about how people best acquire problem-solving skills. This paper is an attempt to advance further development of problem-solving skills of talented school students through combination of some methods accessible from curriculum knowledge and more special techniques that are beyond curriculum. Analysis of various problems is provided in detail. Educational aspects of challenging problems in mathematical contests up to IMO level are, also, taken into account and discussed in the paper.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.793-806
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• 2010

In this paper we study meaning and methods of analyzing problems related with equation of high school mathematics. By analyzing problem we can get two types of informations. Based on these informations we suggest some problem solving methods. Especially we try to extract second type information using analysis through synthesis. This second type information can help us to find new non-routine problem solving method.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.111-136
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• 2018

This study suggests a framework for analyzing items based on the characteristics, and shows the relationship among the characteristics, difficulty, percentage of correct answers, academic achievement and the actual mathematical problem solving competency. Three mathematics educators' classification of 30 items of Mathematics 'Ga' type, on 2017 College Scholastic Ability Test, and the responses given by 148 high school students on the survey examining mathematical problem solving competency were statistically analyzed. The results show that there are only few items satisfying the characteristics for mathematical problem solving competency, and students feel ill-defined and non-routine items difficult, but in actual percentage of correct answers, routineness alone has an effect. For the items satisfying the characteristics, low-achieving group has difficulty in understanding problem, and low and intermediate-achieving group have difficulty in mathematical modelling. The findings can suggest criteria for mathematics teachers to use when developing mathematics questions evaluating problem solving competency.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.67-75
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• 1993

Folate and iron nutrition was studied in a total of 122 pregnant, lactaging, and non-pregant, non-lactating Korean women, Serum folate levels were determined microbiologically using Lactobacillus casei(ATCC 7469), and serum iron levels was analyzed colormetrically. The average folate values of pregnant and lactating women were 5.42ng/ml and 4.14ng/ml, which were significantly lower than that of the non-pregnant, non-lactating women(7.06ng/ml). More than 1/3 of the total subjects were found to have serum folate levels lower than 3ng/ml, at which folate nutrition status can be considered inadequate. Serum iron values of pregnant(96.9ug/dl)and lactating women(93.9ug/dl) were not significantly different from that of the non-pregnant, non-lactating women (97.1ug/dl). There were however, more iron-deficient subjects in the pregnant gorup(17%) and the lactating group(19%) than in the non-pregnant, non-lactating group (8%). A statistically significant positive correlation was shown between the levels of serum folate and iron in lactating women(r=.9694, p<0.05). The results of our study document that folate deficiency is a nutritional problem as prevalent as iron deficiency in Korean women, especially during pregnancy and lactation. For these women a routine folate and iron supplementation might be necessary.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.561-582
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• 2012

Despite popularity of FEM in analysis of static and dynamic structural problems and the routine applicability of FE softwares, analytical methods based on simple mathematical relations is still largely sought by many researchers and practicing engineers around the world. Development of such analytical methods for analysis of free vibration of non-prismatic beams is also of primary concern. In this paper a new and simple method is proposed for determination of vibration frequencies of non-prismatic beams under variable axial forces. The governing differential equation is first obtained and, according to a harmonic vibration, is converted into a single variable equation in terms of location. Through repetitive integrations, integral equation for the weak form of governing equation is derived. The integration constants are determined using the boundary conditions applied to the problem. The mode shape functions are approximated by a power series. Substitution of the power series into the integral equation transforms it into a system of linear algebraic equations. Natural frequencies are determined using a non-trivial solution for system of equations. Presented method is formulated for beams having various end conditions and is extended for determination of the buckling load of non-prismatic beams. The efficiency and convergence rate of the current approach are investigated through comparison of the numerical results obtained to those obtained using available finite element software.