• The Mathematical Education
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.287-302
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• 2009

This study investigated how 5th grade students found and understood triangle congruence conditions (SSS, SAS, ASA). In particular, this study focused on children's processes of discovering triangle congruence conditions and the obstacles which they encountered in the process of making sense of these conditions. Our data indicates that inquiring the cases in which less than three factors of triangle are given is helpful for children to guess triangle congruence conditions and understand the minimal characteristic of these conditions. And the degree of difficulty of discovering each congruence condition is different. Children discovered SAS condition and ASA condition easily, but it was hard for them to discover and understand that SSS was also a triangle congruence condition because they connected the length of a given side with the use of a scaled ruler not a compass.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.131-145
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• 2005

This study intends to analyze didactically on triangle-determining conditions and triangle-congruence conditions. The result of this study revealed the followings: Firstly, many pre-service mathematics teachers and secondary school students have insufficient understanding or misunderstanding on triangle-determining conditions and triangle-congruence conditions. Secondly, the term segment instead of edge may show well the concern of triangle-determining conditions. Thirdly, when students learn the method of finding six elements of triangle using the law of sines and cosines in high school, they should be given the opportunity to reflect the relation and the difference between triangle-determining situation and the situation of finding six elements of triangle. Fourthly, accepting some conditions like SSA-obtuse as a triangle-determining condition or not is not just a logical problem. It depends on the specific contexts investigating triangle-determining conditions. Fifthly, textbooks and classroom teaching need to guide students to discover triangle-deter-mining conditions in the process of inquiry from SSS, SSA, SAS, SAA, ASS, ASA, AAS, AAA to SSS, SAS, ASA, SAA. Sixthly, it is necessary to have students know the significance of 'correspondence' in congruence conditions. Finally, there are some problems of using the term 'correspondent' in describing triangle-congruence conditions.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.341-351
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• 2007

The primary purpose of this treatise is to suggest the solutions as follows for the errors concerning the triangle determination and congruence in every Korean mathematics textbook for 7th graders: showing that SsA, along with SSS, SAS, ASA, should also be included as the condition for triangle determination, congruence and similarity; proving that contrary to what has been believed, minimality applies only to congruence and similarity but not to determination; examining related Euclidean propositions; discussing the confusion about the characteristics of determination and congruence; and considering the negative effects of giving definite figures in construction education. The secondary purpose is to analyze the significance of triangle determinant that is not dealt with in either Euclid's Elements or the text books in the U.S. or Japan, and suggest a way to effectively deal with triangle determination and congruence in education.