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Selected Works

2003

Mathematical concepts

Articles 1 - 3 of 3

Full-Text Articles in Education

The Development Of Mathematical Strategies In The Early Years, Catherine Pearn Dec 2002

The Development Of Mathematical Strategies In The Early Years, Catherine Pearn

Catherine Pearn

Current research has shown that children develop a repertoire of mathematical strategies by progressing though five 'counting stages'. These are: perceptual - students are limited to counting those items they can perceive; figurative - students count from one when solving addition problems with screened collections; initial number sequence - students can now count on to solve addition and missing add-end problems with screened collections; implicitly nested number sequence - students are able to focus on the collection of unit items as one thing, as well as the abstract unit items; explicitly nested number sequence - students are simultaneously aware of …


Are Your Students 'Happy', 'Perfect' Or 'Amicable'?, Ray Peck Dec 2002

Are Your Students 'Happy', 'Perfect' Or 'Amicable'?, Ray Peck

Ray Peck

'Happy' numbers were discovered by a young girl. 'Perfect' numbers were known to the Greeks and given special significance. 'Amicable' numbers have a long history in magic and astrology, making love potions and talismans. In 1866, a sixteen year-old boy discovered a pair of amicable numbers previously unknown. Birthdays, house numbers, telephone numbers and even the names of the students in a class can provide the number source for investigation. This mathematics is interesting and accessible to students in the middle years and provides an opportunity to explore numbers, practice skills, learn some history of mathematics and have some fun …


Fractions : Using The Measurement Model To Develop Understanding, Catherine Pearn Dec 2002

Fractions : Using The Measurement Model To Develop Understanding, Catherine Pearn

Catherine Pearn

Several researchers have noted how children's whole number schemes can interfere with their efforts to learn fractions. An Australian study found that children who were successful with the solution of the rational number tasks exhibited greater whole number knowledge and more flexible solution strategies. Behr and Post (1988) indicated that children needed to be competent in the four operations of whole numbers, along with an understanding of measurement, to enable them to understand rational numbers. The workshop session described in this paper was a 'hands-on' session that focused on the use of paper folding, fraction walls and number lines to …