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The Roles Of Mathematical Metaphors And Gestures In The Understanding Of Abstract Mathematical Concepts, Omid Khatin-Zadeh, Zahra Eskandari, Danyal Farsani

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

When a new mathematical idea is presented to students in terms of abstract mathematical symbols, they may have difficulty to grasp it. This difficulty arises because abstract mathematical symbols do not directly refer to concretely perceivable objects. But, when the same content is presented in the form of a graph or a gesture that depicts that graph, it is often much easier to grasp. The process of solving a complex mathematical problem can also be facilitated with the use of a graphical representation. Transforming a mathematical problem or concept into a graphical representation is a common problem solving strategy, and …