• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2003

This research reviewed literatures on proof in mathematics education. Several views of proof can be classified (and identified) such as psychological approach (Platonism, empiricism), structural approach (logicism, formalism, intuitionism) and social approach (ontology, axiomatic systems). All these views of proof are valuable in mathematics education society. The concept of proof can be found in the form of analytic knowledge not of constructive knowledge. Human beings developed their knowledge in the sequence of constructive knowledge to analytic knowledge. Therefore, in mathematics education, the curriculum of mathematics should involve the process of cognitive knowledge development.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.291-298
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• 1998

This study deals with the problem of proof education in the middle school geometry bby examining van Hiele#s geometric thought level theory and Freudenthal#s mathematization teaching theory. The implications that have been revealed by examining the theory of van Hie이 and Freudenthal are as follows. First of all, the proof education at present that follows the order of #definition-theorem-proof#should be reconsidered. This order of proof-teaching may have the danger that fix the proof education poorly and formally by imposing the ready-made mathematics as the mere record of proof on students rather than suggesting the proof as the real thought activity. Hence we should encourage students in reinventing #proving#as the means of organization and mathematization. Second, proof-learning can not start by introducing the term of proof only. We should recognize proof-learning as a gradual process which forms with understanding the meaning of proof on the basic of the various activities, such as observation of geometric figures, analysis of the properties of geometric figures and construction of the relationship among those properties. Moreover students should be given this natural ground of proof.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.313-326
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• 1998

The purpose of this study is to verify the meaning of preformal proof and its didactical significance in mathematics education. A preformal proof plays a more important role in mathematics education, because nowadays in mathematics a proof is considered as an important fact from a sociological point of view. A preformal proof was classified into four categories: a) action proof, b) geometric-intuitive proof, c) reality oriented proof, d) proof by generalization from paradiam. An educational significance of a preformal proof are followings: a) A proof is not identified with a formal proof. b) A proof is not only considered from a symbolic level, but also from enactive and iconic level. c) A preformal proof generates a formal proof and convinces pupils of a formal proof d) A preformal proof is psychologically natural. e) A preformal proof changes a conception of what is a proof. Therefore a preformal proof is expected to teach in school mathematics from the elementary school to the secondary school.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.73-85
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• 1998

The purpose of this study is to investigate the understanding of middle school students on the meaning of proof and to suggest a teaching method to improve their understanding based on three levels identified by Kunimune as follows: Level I to think that experimental method is enough for justifying proof, Level II to think that deductive method is necessary for justifying proof, Level III to understand the meaning of deductive system. The conclusions of this study are as follows: First, only 13% of 8th graders and 22% of 9th graders are on level II. Second, although about 50% students understand the meaning of hypothesis, conclusion, and proof, they can't understand the necessity of deductive proof. This conclusion implies that the necessity of deductive proof needs to be taught to the middle school students. One of the teaching methods on the necessity of proof is to compare the nature of experimental method and deductive proof method by providing their weak and strong points respectively.

• East Asian mathematical journal
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.299-320
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• 2009

In mathematics, the education of the geometry proof has been playing an important role in promoting the ability for logical thinking by means of developing the deductive reasoning. However, despite of those importance mentioned above, considering the present condition for the education of the geometry proof in middle schools, it is still found that most of classes are led mainly by teachers, operating the cramming system of eduction, and students in those classes have many difficulties in learning the geometry proof course. Accordingly this thesis suggests the other method that is distinguished from previous proof educations. The thesis of Kai-Lin Yang and Fou-Lai Lin on 'A Model of Reading Comprehension of Geometry Proof (RCGP)', which was published in 2007, have various practical examples based on the model. After composing classes based on those examples and instructing the geometry proof, found out a problem. And then advance a new teaching model that amendment and supplementation However, it is considered to have limitation because subjects were minority and classes were operated by man-to-man method. Hopefully, the method of proof education will be more developed through performing more active researches on this in the nearest future.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.381-390
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• 2004

In this study, we conceptualized the ‘preformal proof’, which is a transitive level of proof from the experimental and inductive justification to the formalized mathematical proof. We investigated concrete features of the preformal proof in the historico-genetic and the didactical situations. The preformal proof can get the generality of the contents of proof, which makes a distinction from the experimental proof. And we can draw a distinction between the preformal and formal proof, in point that the preformal proof heads for the reality-oriented objects and does not use the formal language.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.55-72
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• 1998

We prove many statements in middle and high school mathematics, so it is necessary to have some method for understanding the modes of proof. But it is hard to discuss about the modes of proof without knowing logics. Venn-diagrams can be used in a great variety of situations, and it is useful to the students unfamiliar with logical procedure. Since knowing a mode of proof that could be used may still not guarantee success of proof, it is also necessary to illustrate many cases of proof strategies. To achieve the above reguirements, (1)Even though intuition, the modes of proof used in middle school mathematics should be understood by using venn-diagrams and the students can use the right proof in the right statement. (2)We must illustrate many kinds of proof so that the students can get the proof stratigies from these illustrations. (3)If possible, logic should be treated in middle school mathematics for students to understand the system of proof correctly.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.63-73
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• 2000

The purpose of this paper is to address He possibility of the teaching of 'proof' in elementary mathematics, 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. '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. Or educators and mathematicians need to rethink the nature of mathematical proof and give appropriate consideration to the different types of proof related to the cognitive development of a notion of proof.

• School Mathematics
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.501-524
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to develop teaching-learning materials for informal activities geared toward teaching the nature and structure of proof, to make a case analysis of the application of the developed instructional materials to students in an elementary gifted class, to discuss the feasibility of proof education for gifted elementary students and to give some suggestions on that proof education. It's ultimately meant to help improve the proof abilities of elementary gifted students. After the characteristics of the eight selected gifted elementary students were analyzed, instructional materials of nine sessions were developed to let them learn about the nature and structure of proof by utilizing informal activities. And then they took a lesson two times by using the instructional materials, and how they responded to that education was checked. An analysis framework was produced to assess how they solved the given proof problems, and another analysis framework was made to evaluate their understanding of the structure and nature of proof. In order to see whether they showed any improvement in proof abilities, their proof abilities and proof attitude were tested after they took lessons. And then they were asked to write how they felt, and there appeared seven kinds of significant responses when their writings were analyzed. Their responses proved the possibility of proof education for gifted elementary students, and seven suggestions were given on that education.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.20 no.3 s.27
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• pp.373-389
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to compare the way of proving using combinational proof with the way of proving presented in the existing math textbook in the proof of combinational equation and to classify the problem-solving into some categories using combinational proof in combinational equation. Corresponding with these, this study suggests the application of combinational equation using combinational proof and the fundamental material to develop material for advanced study.