1.1 Mathematics
Mathematics is derived from two Greek works 'Manthanein' which means learning' and Techne' which means 'an art or technique'. Therefore mathematics means the art of learning related to disciplines or faculties".
The National Policy on Education (1986) states "Mathematics should be visualized as the vehicle to train a child to think, reason, analyse and to articulate logically. According to Aristotle "Mathematics is the study of quantity". In the modern age of science and information technology the knowledge of mathematics is very crucial and useful (Singh 2004). According to Goel (2006), the science of mathematics played a pivotal role not only in the industrial revolution but in the scientific developments that have
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The study of mathematics also helps the students to lead a well - disciplined life as it helps to develop values likes honesty, truthfulness, open - mindedness, objectivity, self-confidence, self-reliance, patience, willpower and it trains the students in systematic and orderly habits namely concentration, punctuality, neatness ,hard work, orderliness, regularity and so on. This can be said that mathematics goes a long way in helping the children lead a successful life (James, 2005).
In this context Kothari Commission (1964) suggested, "Science and mathematics should be taught on a compulsory basis to all pupils as a part of general education during first ten years of schooling". The importance of mathematics can be expressed in the form of values (Singh, 2004).
1.3 Goals of Learning Mathematics –
To enable to understand as a subject of study for students, the use of numbers, quantities and mathematical reasoning to make deductions and solve problems related to studies and daily life also.
To develop the habit of concentration and hard work, self confidence, self reliance and discovery to pursue further studies in mathematics and as well as in real life.
To develop scientific and realistic attitude towards life.
To encourage students to become risk-takers, inquirers and critical thinkers. The ability to inquire is invaluable and contributes to
It is crucial to develop in children the ability to tackle problems with initiative and confidence…mathematics has changed from careful rehearsal of standard procedures to a focus on mathematical thinking and communication to prepare them for the world of tomorrow (Anghileri, 2006, p.2).
It also requires the student to understand approaches to problem solutions utilized by other students and being able to provide peer feedback. Students should be introduced to the use of mathematics to: organize data, solve problems applicable to their life, and understand the world around them. This approach makes the subject both interesting and enjoyable. The use of these strategies is addressed in the next standard “#4 Model with mathematics” (Academics), which helps the student to make connections, surpass procedural knowledge and gain a conceptual understanding of a
My passion for mathematics was fixed at the age of ten, on the morning that my mathematics teacher told I would be sitting the Junior Maths Challenge, 'as practice for when you are older'. As I nervously started to answer the questions, a whole world began to open before me. I revelled in the problem solving, answering questions of a nature I had not seen before. My teachers were delighted when I emerged from the exam hungry for more. Since then I have consistently demonstrated my aptitude, achieving gold awards through to senior level, and scoring highly in the European Kangaroo.
2. Summarise the national curriculum framework for mathematics incluging age –related expectations of learners as relevant to the setting
The learning provision for numeracy development for children is very important from the beginning of their learning platform as maths is a key in every day live for everyone.
Looking up the definition of mathematics you will get the simple definition, “the abstract science of number, quantity, and space”. I believe the definition of mathematics to be more than this. I believe mathematics is study of science using basic rules or truths, such as truth 1 + 1 = 2, applying these rules in different ways, since 1 + 1 = 2, we can expand on that and say 1 x 2 = 2, and then extrapolating upon those rules. We then can use these rules to apply and make models to represent the world we live in. Some of these models are used in engineering and physics where using these rules of mathematics to then design structures such as bridges, sky-scrapers, and roads.
Geometry and Algebra are so crucial to the development of the world it is taught to every public high school in the United States, around 14.8 million teenagers each year (National Center for Education Statistics). Mathematics is the engine powering our world; our stocks, economy, technology, and science are all based off from math. Math is our universal and definite language “I was especially delighted with the mathematics, on account of the certitude and evidence of their reasonings.” (Rene Descartes, 1637).
The National curriculum states that in Mathematics teachers should use every relevant subject to develop pupils’ mathematical fluency. Confidence in numeracy and other mathematical skills is
Mathematics, study of relationships among quantities, magnitudes, and properties and of logical operations by which unknown quantities, magnitudes, and properties may be deduced. In the past, mathematics was regarded as the science of quantity, whether of magnitudes, as in geometry, or of numbers, as in arithmetic, or of the generalization of these two fields, as in algebra. Toward the middle of the 19th century, however, mathematics came to be regarded increasingly as the science of relations, or as the science that draws necessary conclusions. This latter view encompasses mathematical or symbolic logic, the science of using symbols to provide an exact theory of logical deduction and inference based on
In today’s society mathematics is a vital part of day-to-day life. No matter what a person is doing at home or at the workplace, he/she is constantly using different mathematics skills to simply function. Then what does this mean for mathematics education? When someone needs to utilize a skill every day then he/she needs a strong background in the skill. Therefore, today’s students need more than a just a working knowledge of mathematics or enough knowledge to pass a test. Today’s students need to understand how mathematics works and how to utilize mathematics skills in the best way possible.
Maths is ubiquitous in our lives, but depending on the learning received as a child it could inspire or frighten. If a child has a negative experience in mathematics, that experience has the ability to affect his/her attitude toward mathematics as an adult. Solso (2009) explains that math has the ability to confuse, frighten, and frustrate learners of all ages; Math also has the ability to inspire, encourage and achieve. Almost all daily activities include some form of mathematical procedure, whether people are aware of it or not. Possessing a solid learning foundation for math is vital to ensure a lifelong understanding of math. This essay will discuss why it is crucial to develop in children the ability to tackle problems with initiative and confidence (Anghileri, 2006, p. 2) and why mathematics has changed from careful rehearsal of standard procedures to a focus on mathematical thinking and communication to prepare them for the world of tomorrow (Anghileri).
What is mathematics? What is the distinct definition for it? Something that always has bewildered me is what maths really is.
Mathematics, like every creation of man, have evolved without really knowing how far you can get with them: the scope of the computer, physics, chemistry, algebra, all are evidence of this. Every aspect of our culture is based in some way or another in Mathematics: language, music, dance, art, sculpture, architecture, biology, daily life. All these areas of measurements and calculations are accurate. Even in nature, everything follows a precise pattern and a precise order: a flower, a shell, a butterfly, day and night, the seasons. All this makes mathematics essential for human life and they can not be limited only to a matter within the school curriculum; here lies the importance of teaching math in a pleasure, enjoyable and understandable way. Mathematics is an aid to the development of the child and should be seen as an aid to life and not as an obstacle in their lifes.
Mathematics is a type of reasoning. Thinking mathematically includes thinking in a rational way, developing and checking conjectures, understanding things, and forming and validating judgments, reasoning, and conclusions. We show mathematical habits when we acknowledge and explain patterns, build physical and theoretical models of sensations, develop sign systems to assist us stand for, control, and review concepts, and create treatments to address issues (Battista, 1999).
Mathematics is the one of the most important subjects in our daily life and in most human activities the knowledge of mathematics is important. In the rapidly changing world and in the era of technology, mathematics plays an essential role. To understand the mechanized world and match with the newly developing information technology knowledge in mathematics is vital. Mathematics is the mother of all sciences. Without the knowledge of mathematics, nothing is possible in the world. The world cannot progress without mathematics. Mathematics fulfills most of the human needs related to diverse aspects of everyday life. Mathematics has been accepted as significant element of formal education from ancient period to the present day. Mathematics has a very important role in the classroom not only because of the relevance of the syllabus material, but because of the reasoning processes the student can develop.