Symbols and Meanings in School Mathematics

by David Pimm

Overview

Symbols and Meanings in School Mathematics explores the various uses and aspects of symbols in school mathematics and also examines the notion of mathematical meaning. It is concerned with the power of language which enables us to do mathematics, giving us the ability to name and rename, to transform names and to use names and descriptions to conjure, communicate and control our images. It is in the interplay between language, image and object that mathematics is created and can be communicated to others.


The book also addresses a set of questions of particular relevance to the last decade of the twentieth century, which arise due to the proliferation of machines offering mathematical functioning.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781134823659
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	11/01/2002
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	234
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Pimm, David

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements, An idiosyncratic preface, 1 INTRODUCTION, 2 MANIPULATIVES AS SYMBOLS, 3 GEOMETRIC IMAGES AND SYMBOLS, 4 WHAT COUNTS AS A NUMBER?, 5 ALGEBRA TRANSFORMING, 6 MAKING REPRESENTATIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS, 7 SYMBOLS AND MEASURES, 8 LIVING IN THE MATERIAL WORLD: SYMBOLS IN CONTEXTS, 9 ON FLUENCY AND UNDERSTANDING, 10 ON MANIPULATION, Notes, References, Name index, Subject index

Editorial Reviews

Noting that mathematics education often encompasses activities and issues that are totally lacking in the practice of mathematics, focuses on the naming, recognition, attribution, and manipulation of symbols. Considers manipulatives as symbols, geometric images and symbols, what counts as a number, representations and interpretations, measures, symbols in the material world, fluency, and other aspects. Of interest to teachers and education researchers. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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