• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.81-98
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• 2009

This study analyzed the types of quantitative reasoning and the characteristics of representation in order to figure out the characteristics of quantitative reasoning of the sixth graders. Three students who used quantitative reasoning in solving problems were interviewed in depth. Results showed that the three students used two types of quantitative reasoning, that is difference reasoning and multiplicative reasoning. They used qualitatively different quantitative reasoning, which had a great impact on their problem-solving strategy. Students used symbolic, linguistic and visual representations. Particularly, they used visual representations to represent quantities and relations between quantities included in the problem situation, and to deduce a new relation between quantities. This result implies that visual representation plays a prominent role in quantitative reasoning. This paper included several implications on quantitative reasoning and quantitative approach related to early algebra education.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.371-388
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• 2007

This is a case study trying to understand from the view of affordance which certain three middle school students perceive an activation of previous knowledge in the course of problem solving when they solve algebra word problems with a previous knowledge. The results of this study showed that at first, every subjects perceived the text as affordance which explaining superficial similarities, that is, a working(painting)situation rather than problem structure and then activated the related solution knowledge on the ground of the experience of previous problem solving which is similar to current situation. The subject's applying process for solving knowledge could be arranged largely into two types. The first type is a numeral information connected with the described problem situation or a symbolic representation of mathematical meaning which are the transformed solution applied process with a suitable solution formula to the current problem. This process achieved by constructing a virtual mental model that indicating mathematical situation about the problem when the solver read the problem integrating symbolized information from the described text. The second type is a case that those subjects symbolizing a formal mathematical concept which is not connected with the problem situation about the described numeral information from the applied problem or the text of mathematical meaning, which process is the case to perceive superficial phrases or words that described from the problem as affordance and then applied previously used algorithmatical formula as it was. In conclusion, on the ground of the results of this case study, it is guessed that many students put only algorithmatical knowledge in their memories through previous experiences of problem solving, and the memories are connected with the particular phrases described from the problems. And it is also recognizable when the reflection process which is the last step of problem solving carried out in the process of understanding the problem and making a plan showed the most successful in problem solving.

• Journal of the Korean Mathematical Society
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.1025-1050
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• 2007

Let $X_k(x)=({\int}^T_o{\alpha}_1(s)dx(s),...,{\int}^T_o{\alpha}_k(s)dx(s))\;and\;X_{\tau}(x)=(x(t_1),...,x(t_k))$ on the classical Wiener space, where ${{\alpha}_1,...,{\alpha}_k}$ is an orthonormal subset of $L_2$ [0, T] and ${\tau}:0 is a partition of [0, T]. In this paper, we establish a change of scale formula for conditional Wiener integrals $E[G_{\gamma}|X_k]$ of functions on classical Wiener space having the form $$G_{\gamma}(x)=F(x){\Psi}({\int}^T_ov_1(s)dx(s),...,{\int}^T_o\;v_{\gamma}(s)dx(s))$$, for $F{\in}S\;and\;{\Psi}={\psi}+{\phi}({\psi}{\in}L_p(\mathbb{R}^{\gamma}),\;{\phi}{\in}\hat{M}(\mathbb{R}^{\gamma}))$, which need not be bounded or continuous. Here S is a Banach algebra on classical Wiener space and $\hat{M}(\mathbb{R}^{\gamma})$ is the space of Fourier transforms of measures of bounded variation over $\mathbb{R}^{\gamma}$. As results of the formula, we derive a change of scale formula for the conditional Wiener integrals $E[G_{\gamma}|X_{\tau}]\;and\;E[F|X_{\tau}]$. Finally, we show that the analytic Feynman integral of F can be expressed as a limit of a change of scale transformation of the conditional Wiener integral of F using an inversion formula which changes the conditional Wiener integral of F to an ordinary Wiener integral of F, and then we obtain another type of change of scale formula for Wiener integrals of F.

• School Mathematics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.257-275
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of multiple representations on students' understanding of fractions, decimals, and percent. The instructional approach integrating multiple representations was compared to traditional algorithmic instruction, a form of direct instruction. To examine and compare the impact of multiple representations instruction with traditional algorithmic instruction, pre and post tests consisting of five similar items were administered with 87 middle school students. Students' scores in these two tests and their problem solving processes were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The quantitative results indicated that students taught by traditional algorithmic instruction showed higher scores on the post-test than students in the multiple representations group. Furthermore, findings suggest that instruction using multiple representations does not guarantee a positive impact on students' understanding of mathematical concepts. Qualitative results suggest that the limited use of multiple representations during a class may have hindered students from applying their use in novel problem situations. Therefore, when using multiple representations, teachers should employ more diverse examples and practice with multiple representations to help students to use them without error.

• School Mathematics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.355-386
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• 2014

Algebraic generalization of patterns is based on the capability of grasping a structure inherent in several objects with awareness that this structure applies to general cases and ability to use it to provide an algebraic expression. The purpose of this study is to investigate how students generalize patterns using an algebraic object such as parameters and what are difficulties in geometric-arithmetic pattern tasks related to algebraic generalization and to determine whether the students can use parameters meaningfully through pattern generalization tasks that this researcher designed. During performing tasks of pattern generalization we designed, students differentiated parameters from letter 'n' that is used to denote a variable. Also, the students understood the relations between numbers used in several linear equations and algebraically expressed the generalized relation using a letter that was functions as a parameter. Some difficulties have been identified such that the students could not distinguish parameters from variables and could not transfer from arithmetical procedure to algebra in this process. While trying to resolve these difficulties, generic examples helped the students to meaningfully use parameters in pattern generalization.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2016

Patterns are of great significance to develop algebraic thinking of elementary students. This study analyzed teaching methods of patterns in current elementary mathematics textbook series in terms of three main activities related to pattern generalization (i.e., analyzing the structure of patterns, investigating the relationship between two variables, and reasoning and representing the generalized rules). The results of this study showed that such activities to analyze the structure of patterns are not explicitly considered in the textbooks, whereas those to explore the relationship between two variables in a pattern are emphasized throughout all grade levels using function table. The activities to reason and represent the generalized rules of patterns are dealt in a way both for lower grade students to use informal representations and for upper grade students to employ formal representations with expressions or symbols. The results of this study also illustrated that patterns in the textbooks are treated rather as a separate strand than as something connected to other content strands. This paper closes with several implications to teach patterns in a way to foster early algebraic thinking of elementary school students.

• School Mathematics
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.469-493
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is find the relation between students' concept and types of proof construction. For this, four undergraduate students majored in mathematics education were evaluated to examine how they understand mathematical concepts and apply their concepts to their proving. Investigating students' proof with their concepts would be important to find implications for how students have to understand formal concepts to success in proving. The participants' proof productions were classified into syntactic proof productions and semantic proof productions. By comparing syntactic provers and semantic provers, we could reveal that the approaches to find idea for proof were different for two groups. The syntactic provers utilized procedural knowledges which had been accumulated from their proving experiences. On the other hand, the semantic provers made use of their concept images to understand why the given statements were true and to get a key idea for proof during this process. The distinctions of approaches to proving between two groups were related to students' concepts. Both two types of provers had accurate formal concepts. But the syntactic provers also knew how they applied formal concepts in proving. On the other hand, the semantic provers had concept images which contained the details and meaning of formal concept well. So they were able to use their concept images to get an idea of proving and to express their idea in formal mathematical language. This study leads us to two suggestions for helping students prove. First, undergraduate students should develop their concept images which contain meanings and details of formal concepts in order to produce a meaningful proof. Second, formal concepts with procedural knowledge could be essential to develop informal reasoning into mathematical proof.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.607-615
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to analyze the research status and trends related to the industrial mathematics based on text mining techniques with a sample of 4910 papers collected in the SIAM Journal on Applied Mathematics from 1970 to 2019. The R program was used to collect titles, abstracts, and key words from the papers and to analyze topic modeling techniques based on LDA algorithm. As a result of the coherence score on the collected papers, 20 topics were determined optimally using the Gibbs sampling methods. The main results were as follows. First, studies on industrial mathematics were conducted in a variety of mathematics fields, including computational mathematics, geometry, mathematical modeling, topology, discrete mathematics, probability and statistics, with a focus on analysis and algebra. Second, 5 hot topics (mathematical biology, nonlinear partial differential equation, discrete mathematics, statistics, topology) and 1 cold topic (probability theory) were found based on time series regression analysis. Third, among the fields that were not reflected in the 2015 revised mathematics curriculum, numeral system, matrix, vector in space, and complex numbers were extracted as the contents to be covered in the high school mathematical curriculum. Finally, this study suggested strategies to activate industrial mathematics in Korea, described the study limitations, and proposed directions for future research.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.55-73
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of cognitive activity on cognitive activities that students imagine and cope with continuously changing quantitative changes in functional tasks represented by linguistic expressions, table of value, and geometric patterns, We identified covariational reasoning levels and investigated the characteristics of students' reasoning process according to the levels of covariational reasoning in the elementary quantitative problem situations. Participants were seven 4th grade elementary students using the questionnaires. The selected students were given study materials. We observed the students' activity sheets and conducted in-depth interviews. As a result of the study, the students' covariational reasoning level for two quantities that are continuously covaried was found to be five, and different reasoning process was shown in quantitative problem situations according to students' covariational reasoning levels. In particular, students with low covariational level had difficulty in grasping the two variables and solved the problem mainly by using the table of value, while the students with the level of chunky and smooth continuous covariation were different from those who considered the flow of time variables. Based on the results of the study, we suggested that various problems related with continuous covariation should be provided and the meanings of the tasks should be analyzed by the teachers.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.937-957
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to discover the features of symbol sense. This study tries to sum up the meaning and elements of symbol sense and the measures to improve them through documents. Also based on this, it analyzes the learning conditions about symbol sense for 6th grade mathematically able students and suggests the method that activates symbol sense in the math of elementary schools. Considering various studies on symbol sense, symbol sense means the exact knowledge and essential understanding in a comprehensive way. Symbol sense is an intuition about symbols that grasps the meaning of symbols, understands the situation of question, and realizes the usefulness of symbols in resolving a process. Considering all other scholars' opinions, this study sums up 5 elements of the symbol sense. (The recognition of needs to introduce symbol, ability to read the meaning of symbols, choice of suitable symbols according to the context, pattern guess through visualization, recognize the role of symbols in other context) This study draws the following conclusions after applying the symbol questionnaires targeting 6th grade mathematically able students : First, although they are math talents, there are some differences in terms of the symbol sense level. Second, 5 elements of the symbol sense are not completely separated. They are rather closely related in terms of mainly the symbol understanding, thereby several elements are combined.