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From Newton’s fluxions to virtual microscopes
377-384Views:35The method of fluxions was originally given by Newton among others in order to determine the tangent to a curve. In this note, we will formulate this method by the light of some modern mathematical tools: using the concept of limit, but also with hyperreal numbers and their standard parts and with dual numbers; another way is the use of virtual microscopes both in the contexts of classical and non standard analysis. -
Illustrated analysis of Rule of Four using Maple
383-404Views:37Rule of Four, as a basic didactic principle, was formulated among the NCTM 2000 standards (see [14]) and since then it is quoted by numerous books and publications (see [4], [9], [12]). Practically we can say it is accepted by the community of didactic experts. The usage of the Rule of Four, however, has been realized mainly in the field of calculus, in fact certain authors restrict the wording of the principle to the calculus itself (e.g. [3]).
Calculus is a pleasant field, indeed. A sequence of values of a function provides us with example for numeric representation, while the formula and the graph of the function illustrate symbolic and graphical representations, respectively. In the end by wording the basic features of the function on natural language we gain textual representation.
This idyllic scene, however, becomes more complex when we leave the frame of calculus. In this paper we investigate the consequences of the usage of Rule of Four outside calculus. We discuss the different types of representations and show several examples which make the multiple features of representation evident. The examples are from different fields of mathematics and are created by the computer algebra system Maple, which turns out to be an excellent tool for illustration and visualization of the maim features of mathematical objects.
Next we introduce the concept of basic representation and rational representation, which is considered as the mathematical notion of "didactic usable" or "didactic rational" representation. In the end we generalize the notion of numeric representation, which leads us a more widely usable didactic principle which can be considered as a generalization of Rule of Four. -
Understanding the spatiotemporal sample: a practical view for teaching geologist students
89-99Views:25One of the most fundamental concept of statistics is the (random) sample. Our experience – acquired during the years of undergraduate education – showed that prior to industrial practice, the students in geology (and, most probably, in many other non-mathematics oriented disciplines as well) are often confused by the possible multiple interpretation of the sample. The confusion increases even further, when samples from stationary temporal, spatial or spatio-temporal phenomena are considered. Our goal in the present paper is to give a viable alternative to this overly mathematical approach, which is proven to be far too demanding for geologist students.
Using the results of an environmental pollution analysis we tried to show the notion of the spatiotemporal sample and some of its basic characteristics. On the basis of these considerations we give the definition of the spatiotemporal sample in order to be satisfactory from both the theoretical and the practical points of view. -
Constructing the disk method formula for the volume obtained by revolving a curve around an axis with the help of CAS
363-376Views:32Calculus concepts should have been taught in a carefully designed learning environment, because these concepts constitute a very important base for almost all applied sciences. The integral, one of the fundamental concepts of Calculus, has a wide application area. This paper focuses on constructing the disk method formula for the volume obtained by revolving a curve around an axis with the help of a CAS.
In this study, a semi-structured interview was carried out. In this interview, we tried to construct the disk method formula.
The levels of constructing the disk method formula in this study are:
• Introducing the concept: evaluating the volume of an Egyptian pyramid.
• Evaluating the volume of a cone obtained by revolution (using Maple worksheet).
• Designing their own ring and evaluating its price (using Maplet).
In this study, the interview has been presented as a dialog between teacher and students. When we look at feedback from students, we see that such a teaching method effects students in a positive way and causes them to gain conceptual understanding directed towards the concepts of approximation and volume. -
On a special class of generalized conics with infinitely many focal points
87-99Views:8Let a continuous, piecewise smooth curve in the Euclidean space be given. We are going to investigate the surfaces formed by the vertices of generalized cones with such a curve as the common directrix and the same area. The basic geometric idea in the background is when the curve runs through the sides of a non-void triangle ABC. Then the sum of the areas of some triangles is constant for any point of such a surface. By the help of a growth condition we prove that these are convex compact surfaces in the space provided that the points A, B and C are not collinear. The next step is to introduce the general concept of awnings spanned by a curve. As an important example awnings spanned by a circle will be considered. Estimations for the volume of the convex hull will be also given. -
Kompetenzstreben und Kompetenzerwerb: Funktionale didaktische Fördermöglichkeiten durch Differenzierung und Individualisierung
1-52Views:32As a first glimpse of specific research endeavours the most important components of competence motivation are discussed in relation to didactical questions of gaining competence by inner differentiation and individualization: self-efficacy, optimal challenge, intrinsic motivation, exploration needs, internal attribution, self-determination motivation, defense of self-worth, self-concept, and achievement motivation. In this sense "competence" means ever changing standards of self-regulation of an individual interacting with the various cognitive and emotional demands of his/her environment.
In fulfilling these requirements a prototypical example of inner differentiation in mathematics instruction is given. This didactical elaboration is available as a selfinstructing unit in Hungarian and German language within the "Electronic periodical of the Department of Methodology of Mathematics" which can be reached under http://mathdid.inhun.com. -
Arithmetic progressions of higher order
225-239Views:28The aim of this article is to clarify the role of arithmetic progressions of higher order in the set of all progressions. It is important to perceive them as the pairs of progressions closely connected by simple relations of differential or cumulative progressions, i.e. by operations denoted in the text by r and s. This duality affords in a natural way the concept of an alternating arithmetic progression that deserves further studies. All these progressions can be identified with polynomials and very special, explicitly described, recursive progressions. The results mentioned here point to a very close relationship among a series of mathematical objects and to the importance of combinatorial numbers; they are presented in a form accessible to the graduates of secondary schools. -
Veranschaulichung der Lehrstoffstruktur durch Galois-Graphen
217-229Views:41In this article we compare the process diagram with the Galois-graph, the two hierarchical descriptions of the curriculum's construction from the point of didactics. We present the concrete example through the structure of convex quadrangles. As a result of the analysis it is proved that the process diagram is suitable for describing the activity of pupils, still the Galois-graph is the adequate model of the net of knowledge. The analysis also points out that in teaching of convex quadrangles the constructions of curriculum based only on property of symmetry and only on metrical property are coherent. Generalizing concept is prosperous if the pupils' existing net of knowledge lives on, at most it is amplified and completed. Teaching of convex quadrangles in Hungarian education adopts this principle. -
A Nim like game and a machine that plays it: a learning situation at the interface of mathematics and computer science
317-326Views:119The purpose of this work is to take a didactic look at a learning situation located at the interface between mathematics and computer science. This situation offers a first approach to the concept of artificial intelligence through the study of a reinforcement learning device. The learning situation, inspired by the Computer Science Unplugged approach, is based on a combinatorial game, along with a device that learns how to play this game. We studied the learning potential when the human players face the machine. After an a priori analysis using the Theory of Didactic Situations (TDS), we conducted a pre-experiment in order to strengthen our hypotheses. In this article, we will focus on the analysis of the didactic variables, the values we have chosen for these variables and their effects on students’ strategies.
Subject Classification: 97D99, 97K99, 97P80
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On some problems on composition of arithmetic functions
161-181Views:17The main goal of this paper is to investigate some problems related to the commutativity of the composition of arithmetic functions. The concept of commutativity arises many times in high school maths, so it is natural to study the composition of functions, namely the equation f(g(n)) = g(f(n)), where f and g are such well known arithmetic functions as d(n), φ(n), σ(n), ω(n), or Ω(n). We study various aspects of solvability: can we exhibit infinitely many solutions; can we determine every solution; can we find suitable values in the range of both functions f and g for which the equation is, or is not solvable, respectively. We need just the basic facts about the above functions,and we use only elementary methods in the proofs. We present some interesting questions, their solutions, and raise some unsolved problems. We found that this topic can be discussed well in secondary school, mainly within the framework of group study sessions as we had some classes with a group of kids in 9th grade. We summarize the experiences of this experiment in the last section. -
Fuzzy Datalog with background knowledge
257-281Views:13In this paper we give a possible model for handling uncertain information. The concept of fuzzy knowledge-base will be defined as a triplet of a background knowledge defined by the similarity of predicates and terms; a deduction mechanism: a fuzzy Datalog program, and a decoding set of the program, which help us to determine the uncertainty level of the results. -
Central axonometry in engineer training and engineering practice
17-28Views:22This paper is concerned with showing a unified approach for teaching central and parallel projections of the space to the plane giving special emphasis to engineer training. The basis for unification is provided by the analogies between central axonometry and parallel axonometry. Since the concept of central axonometry is not widely known in engineering practice it is necessary to introduce it during the education phase. When teaching axonometries dynamic geometry software can also be used in an interactive way. We shall provide a method to demonstrate the basic constructions of various axonometries and use these computer applications to highlight their similarities. Our paper sheds light on the advantages of a unified approach in such areas of engineering practice as making hand drawn plans and using CAD-systems. -
The development of geometrical concepts in lower primary mathematics teaching: the square and the rectangle
153-171Views:41Our research question is how lower primary geometry teaching in Hungary, particularly the concept of squares and rectangles is related to the levels formulated by van Hiele. Moreover to what extent are the concrete activities carried out at these levels effective in evolving the concepts of squares and rectangles.
In the lower primary geometry teaching (classes 1-4) the first two stages of the van Hiele levels can be put into practice. By the completion of lower primary classes level 3 cannot be reached. Although in this age the classes of concepts (rectangles, squares) are evolved, but there is not particular relationship between them. The relation of involvement is not really perceived by the children. -
Some aspects of teaching the technology of designing and planning information systems in health care
131-144Views:25In this article, we use the well-known ideas of technology in designing of new information systems in health care. We explain the principle that "making a health care application" "is more than writing a program", "it requires a strong co-operation and continuous contact" between the system analysts and users. The concept of the information system must contain the work of the whole system, which means that the planning and designing process should focus on the services, which really support the customer's functions. It has to be compatible with the earlier information systems based on several decade's experience. In this paper we use the most important elements of system theory. First of all we explain why it is important to take into account the behaviour of those, who operate the information system, and also their habits and way of thinking when planning then information system. We emphasise that it is importance to overview the whole information system and its functionality because it is a major aspect of the system planning.
This paper can be used in university courses especially in teaching SDM, SSADM, Martin, etc. technologies for information system analysts, program designers and programmers. -
Manipulative bulletin board for early categorization
1-12Views:26According to various researchers categorization is a developmentally appropriate mathematical concept for young children. Classifying objects also relates to every day activities of human life. The manipulative bulletin board (MBB) served as a kind of auxiliary means for approaching categorization by young children. In this article we investigated the kind of MBB that pre-service early childhood education teachers constructed in order to involve children in tasks of categorization, as well as, the way children manipulated these boards in order to categorize items. The MBB, as teaching aids, facilitated the engagement of the children in different categorization processes. -
Some problems of solving linear equation with fractions
339-351Views:17The aim of this paper is to offer some possible ways of solving linear equations, using manipulative tools, in which the "−" sign is found in front of an algebraic fraction which has a binomial as a numerator. It is used at 8th grade. -
Decision based examination of object-oriented programming and Design Patterns
83-109Views:28On the basis of our examination experience of Design Patterns the existing interpretations and descriptions of Design Patterns do not realise a clear and understandable answer for their aims. The reason for this is that the existing interpretation of the object-oriented paradigms is used for their description and formulation. In order that clear answers could be found for the aims of using Design Patterns, a new conception of their interpretation has to be established. In order to create a new conception, we have to analyze object-oriented paradigms.
According to our new conception the object-oriented methodology is based on the elimination of decision repetition, thus sorting the decisions to class hierarchy, with the help of which the data structure and methodology of decision options can be determined by the subclasses of the given class. Sorting the decisions and decision options to a class and its subclasses only the first decision case will be executed, which will be archived and enclosed by instantiation of one of the subclasses. For the following decision cases the archived decision result can be used without knowledge of which decision option was used, so to say which subclass was instantiated, because it is enclosed by using the type of the parent class.
The aim of the object-oriented technology is the elimination of decision repetition, which can be realized by sorting the decisions. The derivations are the abstract definitions of decisions, so the derivations can be interpreted as decision abstractions. The Design Patterns offer recipes for sorting the decisions. With the help of the decision concept the aim of Design Patterns can be cleared and a more natural classification of Design Patterns can be realized. -
Comparison of teaching exponential and logarithmic functions based on mathematics textbook analysis
297-318Views:28Exponential and logarithmic functions are key mathematical concepts that play central roles in advanced mathematics. Unfortunately these are also concepts that give students serious difficulties. In this paper I would like to give an overview – based on textbook analysis – about the Hungarian, Austrian and Dutch situation of teaching exponential and logarithmic functions. This comparison could also provide some ideas for Hungarian teachers on how to embed this topic in their practice in another more "realistic" way.