Preface |
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xiii | |
Acknowledgements |
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xvii | |
Introduction |
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Chapter 1 The Psychology of Advanced Mathematical Thinking |
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3 | (22) |
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1 Cognitive considerations |
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4 | (10) |
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1.1 Different kinds of mathematical mind |
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4 | (2) |
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1.2 Meta-theoretical considerations |
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6 | (1) |
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1.3 Concept image and concept definition |
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6 | (1) |
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1.4 Cognitive development |
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7 | (2) |
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1.5 Transition and mental reconstruction |
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9 | (1) |
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9 | (2) |
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1.7 Generalization and abstraction |
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11 | (2) |
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13 | (1) |
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2 The growth of mathematical knowledge |
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14 | (3) |
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2.1 The full range of advanced mathematical thinking |
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14 | (1) |
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2.2 Building and testing theories: synthesis and analysis |
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15 | (1) |
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16 | (1) |
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3 Curriculum design in advanced mathematical learning |
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17 | (3) |
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3.1 Sequencing the learning experience |
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17 | (1) |
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18 | (1) |
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19 | (1) |
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3.4 Differences between elementary and advanced mathematical thinking |
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20 | (1) |
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20 | (5) |
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I THE NATURE OF ADVANCED MATHEMATICAL THINKING |
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Chapter 2 Advanced Mathematical Thinking Processes |
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25 | (17) |
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1 Advanced mathematical thinking as process |
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26 | (4) |
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2 Processes involved in representation |
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30 | (4) |
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2.1 The process of representing |
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30 | (2) |
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2.2 Switching representations and translating |
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32 | (2) |
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34 | (1) |
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3 Processes involved in abstraction |
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34 | (4) |
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35 | (1) |
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35 | (1) |
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36 | (2) |
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4 Relationships between representing and abstracting (in learning processes) |
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38 | (2) |
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5 A wider vista of advanced mathematical processes |
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40 | (2) |
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Chapter 3 Mathematical Creativity |
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42 | (12) |
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1 The stages of development of mathematical creativity |
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42 | (4) |
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2 The structure of a mathematical theory |
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46 | (1) |
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3 A tentative definition of mathematical creativity |
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46 | (1) |
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4 The ingredients of mathematical creativity |
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47 | (1) |
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5 The motive power of mathematical creativity |
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47 | (2) |
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6 The characteristics of mathematical creativity |
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49 | (1) |
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7 The results of mathematical creativity |
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50 | (2) |
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8 The fallibility of mathematical creativity |
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52 | (1) |
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9 Consequences in teaching advanced mathematical thinking |
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52 | (2) |
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Chapter 4 Mathematical Proof |
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54 | (11) |
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1 Origins of the emphasis on formal proof |
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55 | (1) |
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2 More recent views of mathematics |
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55 | (3) |
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3 Factors in acceptance of a proof |
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58 | (1) |
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59 | (1) |
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60 | (1) |
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60 | (5) |
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II COGNITIVE THEORY OF ADVANCED MATHEMATICAL THINKING |
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Chapter 5 The Role of Definitions in the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics |
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65 | (17) |
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1 Definitions in mathematics and common assumptions about pedagogy |
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65 | (2) |
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2 The cognitive situation |
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67 | (1) |
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68 | (1) |
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69 | (1) |
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69 | (1) |
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6 Concept image and concept definition - desirable theory and practice |
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69 | (4) |
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7 Three illustrations of common concept images |
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73 | (6) |
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8 Some implications for teaching |
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79 | (3) |
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Chapter 6 The Role of Conceptual Entities and their symbols in building Advanced Mathematical Concepts |
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82 | (13) |
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1 Three roles of conceptual entities |
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83 | (5) |
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84 | (1) |
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1.2a Comprehension: the case of "uniform" and "point-wise" operators |
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84 | (2) |
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1.2b Comprehension: the case of object-valued operators |
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86 | (2) |
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1.3 Conceptual entities as aids to focus |
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88 | (1) |
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2 Roles of mathematical notations |
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88 | (5) |
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2.1 Notation and formation of cognitive entities |
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89 | (2) |
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2.2 Reflecting structure in elaborated notations |
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91 | (2) |
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93 | (2) |
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Chapter 7 Reflective Abstraction in Advanced Mathematical Thinking |
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95 | (32) |
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1 Piaget's notion of reflective abstraction |
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97 | (5) |
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1.1 The importance of reflective abstraction |
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97 | (2) |
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1.2 The nature of reflective abstraction |
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99 | (1) |
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1.3 Examples of reflective abstraction in children's thinking |
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100 | (1) |
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1.4 Various kinds of construction in reflective abstraction |
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101 | (1) |
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2 A theory of the development of concepts in advanced mathematical thinking |
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102 | (7) |
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2.1 Objects, processes and schemas |
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102 | (1) |
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2.2 Constructions in advanced mathematical concepts |
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103 | (3) |
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2.3 The organization of schemas |
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106 | (3) |
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3 Genetic decompositions of three schemas |
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109 | (10) |
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3.1 Mathematical induction |
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110 | (4) |
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114 | (2) |
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116 | (3) |
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4 Implications for education |
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119 | (8) |
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4.1 Inadequacy of traditional teaching practices |
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120 | (3) |
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123 | (4) |
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III RESEARCH INTO THE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF ADVANCED MATHEMATICAL THINKING |
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Chapter 8 Research in Teaching and Learning Mathematics at an Advanced Level |
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127 | (13) |
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1 Do there exist features specific to the learning of advanced mathematics? |
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128 | (5) |
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128 | (1) |
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128 | (2) |
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1.3 Assessment of students' work |
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130 | (1) |
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1.4 Psychological and cognitive characteristics of students |
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131 | (1) |
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1.5 Hypotheses on student acquisition of knowledge in advanced mathematics |
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132 | (1) |
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133 | (1) |
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2 Research on learning mathematics at the advanced level |
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133 | (6) |
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2.1 Research into students' acquisition of specific concepts |
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134 | (1) |
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2.2 Research into the organization of mathematical content at an advanced level |
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134 | (2) |
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2.3 Research on the external environment for advanced mathematical thinking |
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136 | (3) |
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139 | (1) |
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Chapter 9 Functions and associated learning difficulties |
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140 | (13) |
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140 | (2) |
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2 Deficiencies in learning theories |
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142 | (2) |
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144 | (1) |
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4 Functions, graphs and visualization |
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145 | (3) |
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5 Abstraction, notation, and anxiety |
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148 | (3) |
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6 Representational difficulties |
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151 | (1) |
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152 | (1) |
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153 | (14) |
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1 Spontaneous conceptions and mental models |
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154 | (4) |
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158 | (1) |
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3 Epistemological obstacles in historical development |
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159 | (3) |
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4 Epistemological obstacles in modern mathematics |
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162 | (1) |
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5 The didactical transmission of epistemological obstacles |
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163 | (2) |
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6 Towards pedagogical strategies |
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165 | (2) |
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167 | (32) |
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168 | (6) |
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1.1 Some concepts emerged early but were established late |
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168 | (1) |
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1.2 Some concepts cause both enthusiasm and virulent criticism |
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168 | (1) |
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1.3 The differential/derivative conflict and its educational repercussions |
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169 | (3) |
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1.4 The non-standard analysis revival and its weak impact on education |
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172 | (1) |
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1.5 Current educational trends |
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173 | (1) |
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174 | (12) |
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2.1 A cross-sectional study of the understanding of elementary calculus in adolescents and young adults |
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176 | (4) |
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2.2 A study of student conceptions of the differential, and of the processes of differentiation and integration |
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180 | (1) |
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2.2.1 The meaning and usefulness of differentials and differential procedures |
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180 | (2) |
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2.2.2 Approximation and rigour in reasoning |
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182 | (2) |
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2.2.3 The role of differential elements |
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184 | (2) |
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2.3 The role of education |
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186 | (1) |
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3 Research in didactic engineering |
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186 | (10) |
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187 | (4) |
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3.2 Teaching integration through scientific debate |
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191 | (2) |
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3.3 Didactic engineering in teaching differential equations |
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193 | (2) |
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195 | (1) |
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4 Conclusion and future perspectives in education |
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196 | (3) |
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Chapter 12 The Role of Students' Intuitions of Infinity in Teaching the Cantorial Theory |
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199 | (16) |
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1 Theoretical conceptions of infinity |
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200 | (1) |
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2 Students' conceptions of infinity |
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201 | (4) |
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2.1 Students' intuitive criteria for comparing infinite quantities |
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203 | (2) |
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3 First steps towards improving students' intuitive understanding of actual infinity |
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205 | (4) |
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3.1 The "finite and infinite sets" learning unit |
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206 | (1) |
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3.2 Raising students' awareness of the inconsistencies in their own thinking |
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206 | (1) |
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3.3 Discussing the origins of students' intuitions about infinity |
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207 | (1) |
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3.4 Progressing from finite to infinite sets |
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207 | (1) |
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3.5 Stressing that it is legitimate to wonder about infinity |
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208 | (1) |
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3.6 Emphasizing the relativity of mathematics |
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208 | (1) |
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3.7 Strengthening students' confidence in the new definitions |
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209 | (1) |
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4 Changes in students' understanding of actual infinity |
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209 | (5) |
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214 | (1) |
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Chapter 13 Research on Mathematical Proof |
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215 | (16) |
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215 | (1) |
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2 Students' understanding of proofs |
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216 | (3) |
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3 The structural method of proof exposition |
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219 | (5) |
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3.1 A proof in linear style |
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221 | (1) |
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3.2 A proof in structural style |
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222 | (2) |
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4 Conjectures and proofs - the scientific debate in a mathematical course |
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224 | (5) |
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4.1 Generating scientific debate |
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225 | (1) |
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4.2 An example of scientific debate |
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226 | (2) |
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4.3 The organization of proof debates |
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228 | (1) |
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4.4 Evaluating the role of debate |
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229 | (1) |
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229 | (2) |
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Chapter 14 Advanced Mathematical Thinking and the Computer |
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231 | (20) |
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231 | (1) |
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2 The computer in mathematical research |
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231 | (3) |
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3 The computer in mathematical education - generalities |
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234 | (1) |
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235 | (2) |
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5 Conceptual development using a computer |
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237 | (1) |
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6 The computer as an environment for exploration of fundamental ideas |
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238 | (3) |
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241 | (2) |
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243 | (1) |
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Appendix to Chapter 14 ISETL: a computer language for advanced mathematical thinking |
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244 | (7) |
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251 | (10) |
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Bibliography |
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261 | (14) |
Index |
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275 | |