Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Tall's worlds of mathematics'

Calculus at the university level is taken by thousands of undergraduate students each year. However, a significant number of students struggle with the subject, resulting in poor problem solving, low achievement, and high failure rates in the calculus courses overall (e.g., Kaput, 1994; Szydlik, 2000; Tall, 1985; Tall & Ramos, 2004; White & Mitchelmore, 1996). This is cause for concern as the lack of success in university calculus creates further barriers for students who require the course for their programs of study. This study examines this issue from the perspective of Tall’s Three Worlds of Mathematics (Tall, 2004a, 2004b, 2008), a theory of mathematics and mathematical cognitive development. A fundamental argument of Tall’s theory suggests that connecting between the different mathematical worlds, named the Embodied-Conceptual, Symbolic-Proceptual, and Formal-Axiomatic worlds, is essential for full cognitive development and understanding of mathematical concepts. Working from this perspective, this research examined, through the use of calculus task questions and semi-structured interviews, how fifteen undergraduate calculus students made connections between the different mathematical worlds for the calculus topics of limits and derivatives. The analysis of the findings suggests that how the students make connections can be described by eight different Response Categories. The study also found that how the participants made connections between mathematical worlds might be influenced by the type of questions that are asked and their experience in calculus courses. I infer that these Response Categories have significance for this study and offer potential for further study and educational practice. I conclude by identifying areas of further research in regards to calculus achievement, the Response Categories, and other findings such as a more detailed study of the influence of experience.

In this thesis, we introduce a novel class of many-body quantum system, which we term ‘quantum small worlds'. These are strongly-interacting systems that interpolate between completely ordered (nearest-neighbour, next-to-nearest-neighbour etc.) and completely random interactions. They are systems of quantum spin particles in which the network topology is given by the Watts-Strogatz model of network theory. As such, they furnish a novel laboratory for studying quantum systems transitioning between integrable and non-integrable behaviour. Our motivation is to understand how the dynamics of the system are affected by this transition, particularly with regards to the ability of the system to scramble (quantum) information, and potential emergence of chaotic behaviour. Our work begins with a review of the relevant literature regarding algebraic graph theory and quantum chaos. Next, we introduce the model by starting from a well understood integrable system, a spin- 1 2 Heisenberg, or Ising, chain. We then inject a small number of long-range interactions and study its ability to scramble quantum information using two primary devices: the out-of-time-order correlator (OTOC) and the spectral form factor (SFF). We find that the system shows increasingly rapid scrambling as its interactions become progressively more random, with no evidence of quantum chaos as diagnosed by either of these devices.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2011.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: It is well known that the ring of integers Z and the ring of polynomials A = Fr[T] over a finite field Fr have many properties in common. It is due to these properties that almost all the famous (multiplicative) number theoretic results over Z have analogues over A. In this thesis, we are devoted to utilising this analogy together with the theory of Carlitz modules. We do this to survey and compare the analogues of cyclotomic polynomials, the size of their coefficients and cyclotomic extensions over the rational function field k = Fr(T).
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dit is bekend dat Z, die ring van heelgetalle en A = Fr[T], die ring van polinome oor ’n eindige liggaam baie eienskappe in gemeen het. Dit is as gevolg van hierdie eienskappe dat feitlik al die bekende multiplikative resultate wat vir Z geld, analoë in A het. In hierdie tesis, fokus ons op die gebruik van hierdie analogie saam met die teorie van die Carlitz module. Ons doen dit om ’n oorsig oor die analoë van die siklotomiese polinome, hul koëffisiënte, en siklotomiese uitbreidings oor die rasionele funksie veld k = Fr(T).

As a full-time Professor of Mathematics Education, as well as a part-time eighth grade (13 and 14 year olds) mathematics teacher, I have the opportunity to experience the teaching profession from “both sides of the fence.” My university courses are enhanced by my work in the field, while my eighth graders’ learning is strengthened by educational principles studied at the university. In this paper (and presentation), I will explain this partnership and the benefits to both audiences.

This dissertation addresses the problem of learning to act in an unknown and uncertain world. This is a difficult problem. Even if a world model is available, an assumption not made here, it is known to be intractable to learn an optimal policy for controlling behaviour (Littman 1996). Assuming no world model is known leads to two approaches: model-free learning, which attempts to learn to act without a model of the environment, and model learning, which attempts to learn a model of the environment from interactions with the world. Most earlier approaches make a priori assumptions about the complexity of the model or policy required, the upshot of which is that a fixed amount of memory is available to the agent. It is well known that in a noisy environment, the type assumed within, an environment specific amount of memory is required to act optimally. Fixing the capacity of memory before any interactions have occurred is thus a limiting assumption. The theme of this dissertation is that representing multiple policies or environment models of varying size enables us to address this problem. Both model-free learning and model learning are investigated. For the former, I present a policy search method (usable with a wide range of algorithms) that maintains a population of policies of varying size. By sharing information between policies I show that it can learn near optimal policies for a variety of challenging problems, and that performance is significantly improved over using the same amount of computation without information sharing. I investigate two approaches to model learning. The first is a variational Bayesian method for learning POMDPs. I show that it achieves superior results to the Bayes-adaptive algorithm (Ross, Chaib-draa and Pineau 2007) using their experimental setup. However, this experimental setup makes strong assumptions about prior information, and I show that weakening these assumptions leads to poor performance. I then address model learning for a simpler model, a topological map. I develop a novel non-parametric Bayesian map that sets no limit of the model size, and show experimentally that maps can be learned from robot data with weak prior knowledge.

Using ethnographic observations and interview based research I document the production of research mathematics in four European research institutes, interviewing 45 mathematicians from three areas of pure mathematics: topology, algebraic geometry and differential geometry. I use Bourdieu's notions of habitus, field and practice to explore how mathematicians come to perceive and interact with abstract mathematical spaces and constructions. Perception of mathematical reality, I explain, depends upon enculturation within a mathematical discipline. This process of socialisation involves positioning an individual within a field of production. Within a field mathematicians acquire certain structured sets of dispositions which constitute habitus, and these habitus then provide both perspectives and perceptual lenses through which to construe mathematical objects and spaces. I describe how mathematical perception is built up through interactions within three domains of experience: physical spaces, conceptual spaces and discourse spaces. These domains share analogous structuring schemas, which are related through Lakoff and Johnson's notions of metaphorical mappings and image schemas. Such schemas are mobilised during problem solving and proof construction, in order to guide mathematicians' intuitions; and are utilised during communicative acts, in order to create common ground and common reference frames. However, different structuring principles are utilised according to the contexts in which the act of knowledge production or communication take place. The degree of formality, privacy or competitiveness of environments affects the presentation of mathematicians' selves and ideas. Goffman's concept of interaction frame, front-stage and backstage are therefore used to explain how certain positions in the field shape dispositions, and lead to the realisation of different structuring schemas or scripts. I use Sewell's qualifications of Bourdieu's theories to explore the multiplicity of schemas present within mathematicians' habitus, and detail how they are given expression through craftwork and bricolage. I argue that mathematicians' perception of mathematical phenomena are dependent upon their positions and relations. I develop the notion of social space, providing definitions of such spaces and how they are generated, how positions are determined, and how individuals reposition within space through acquisition of capital.

In recent years, researchers have continued to examine factors that contribute to the ongoing loss of women in mathematics programs and careers at a higher rate than their male counterparts. An important element in women choosing to persist in mathematics may be the ability to identify as mathematically able, however popular culture often constructs ideas of ‘mathematicians’ and ‘femininity’ in ways which render them difficult to reconcile. This research explores the narratives of Canadian female undergraduate students in mathematics-intensive programs in order to develop further understanding of how they negotiate identities as ‘feminine’ and mathematically able. Four students from a Canadian university were recruited to participate in narrative research interviews. Using Holland et al.’s (2003) concept of figured worlds, this study employs a thematic analysis of the data to examine how participants use, adapt or reject available discourses to perform identities as feminine and mathematically able. Depuis quelques années, les chercheurs continuent d'examiner les facteurs contribuant à la déplétion continue des femmes dans les programmes et les carrières en mathématiques à un taux plus élevé que leurs homologues masculins. Un élément important dans le choix des femmes de persévérer dans les mathématiques semble être la capacité de s'identifier comme mathématiquement capables, or la culture populaire construit souvent des concepts de «mathématiciens» et de «féminité» de manière à les rendre difficiles à concilier. Cette recherche explore les rapports narratifs d'étudiantes canadiennes au baccalauréat dans des programmes intensifs en mathématiques afin de mieux comprendre comment elles négocient des identités tel que «féminine» et mathématiquement capable. Quatre étudiantes d'une université canadienne ont été recrutées pour participer à des entrevues de recherche narrative. En utilisant le concept de «figured worlds» de Holland et al. (2003), cette étude utilise une analyse thématique des données pour examiner comment les participantes utilisent, adaptent ou rejettent les discours pour réaliser des identités comme féminines et mathématiquement capables.

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This qualitative research has as general objective to analyze the limit concept of a function in a point, presented by students of two undergraduate mathematics teaching courses, as well as its strategies of solving questions, in the light of the Theory of the Three Worlds of Mathematics. Firstly, was made an analysis of the introduction of the concept of limit in Calculus textbooks, based on the theoretical framework. Then, a mapping of articles on the ideas of David Tall was done, as well as a search of dissertations and theses that were based on these ideas. In the last phase, a test on limits of functions was applied to students of mathematics teaching courses, who had already studied the discipline of Calculus I and were interviewed professors of this discipline in both courses. The analysis of the textbooks made it possible to verify that, in the introductory chapters, there is a work that advocates features of the symbolic and embodied worlds, especially the first, with some aspects of the formal world. In relation to the interviews with the teachers, they affirmed that begin with graphical examples and tables of functions values to introduce the concept and only then try to reach the formal definition, crossing the Three Worlds of Mathematics. In the test applied to the students, it was concluded that most of them use the natural language to conceptualize limit, presenting characteristics of the embodied world, with some symbolic elements, but without achieving a development compatible with the formal axiomatic world.
Esta pesquisa, de caráter qualitativo, tem como objetivo geral analisar o conceito de limite de uma função em um ponto, apresentado por estudantes de dois cursos de Licenciatura em Matemática, bem como suas estratégias de resolução de questões, à luz da Teoria dos Três Mundos da Matemática. Primeiramente, foi realizada uma análise da introdução do conceito de limite em livros didáticos de Cálculo, com base no quadro teórico. Em seguida, foi feito um mapeamento de artigos sobre as ideias de David Tall, bem como uma busca de dissertações e teses que se basearam nessas ideias. Na última etapa, foi aplicado um teste sobre limites de funções a alunos que já haviam cursado a disciplina de Cálculo I e foram entrevistados docentes dessa disciplina nos dois cursos. A análise dos livros didáticos possibilitou verificar que, nos capítulos introdutórios, há um trabalho que preconiza características dos Mundos Simbólico e Corporificado, especialmente do primeiro, com alguns aspectos do Mundo Formal. Em relação às entrevistas com os professores, estes declararam partir de exemplos gráficos e tabelas de valores de função para introduzir o conceito e só depois tentam chegar à definição formal, perpassando os Três Mundos da Matemática. Em se tratando do teste aplicado aos estudantes, concluiu-se que a maior parte dos alunos utiliza a linguagem natural para conceituar limite, apresentando características do Mundo Corporificado, com alguns elementos simbólicos, mas sem atingir um desenvolvimento compatível com o Mundo Axiomático Formal.

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This thesis has as main theme the learning of the derivative. The research was motivated by the questioning: What are the different thoughts related to the learning process of a concept? Thus, the theory of the Three Worlds of Mathematics proposed by David Tall was used as basis, what brought elements that allow us to understand how humans learn to think mathematically. From this framework, was developed nine thought flows involved in learning a mathematical concept. A study of the derivative is also held to compose the material analyzed in this research and, from the perspective of thought flows, specific flows that allow us to observe learning elements of derivative were highlighted, as in the embodied world, which presents sensitive and noticeable aspects, when it is treated as the tangent line slope, place of righteousness instant variation curve or rate. In the symbolic world, it’s possible to observe routines and tacit processes to this concept, which are run in order to create their own symbols; and in the formal world, it was observed the axiomatic structure that a derivative can be designed. This thesis follows the exploratory theoretical proposal, because it is a research that relies only on documents to build its own concepts and arguments, using the accuracy and logical consistency to produce a base material for further research. Another result observed, which resulted in a breakthrough among the theories discussed, refers to noticeable feature of the derivative, belonging to the embodied world as this unlinked is procedural characteristics, providing thus provide a reference basis for further investigations in the process teaching and learning derivative
A presente tese tem como temática a aprendizagem da derivada. A pesquisa foi motivada pelo problema: Quais são os diferentes pensamentos relacionados ao processo de aprendizagem de um conceito? Assim, buscou-se na teoria dos Três Mundos da Matemática, proposta por David Tall, elementos que permitem compreender, como os humanos aprendem a pensar matematicamente. A partir desse referencial, foram desenvolvidos nove fluxos de pensamento envolvidos na aprendizagem de um conceito matemático. Também foi realizado um estudo da derivada para compor o material de análise desta pesquisa e, na perspectiva dos fluxos de pensamento, destacou-se os fluxos que permitem observar elementos de aprendizagem da derivada, como no mundo corporificado, que apresenta aspectos sensíveis e perceptíveis aos sentidos, ocasião em que é tratado como a inclinação da reta tangente, a retidão local de uma curva ou a taxa de variação instantânea; no mundo simbólico, são observadas rotinas e processos tácitos a esse conceito, que são executados a fim de se criar simbologias próprias; e no mundo formal, observou-se a estrutura axiomática que a derivada pode ser concebida. Esta tese apresenta uma proposta teórica exploratória, pois se trata de uma pesquisa que utiliza apenas documentos para construir os próprios conceitos e argumentos, utilizando o rigor e a coerência lógica, para produzir um material de base para novos estudos. Outro resultado observado, que resultou em um avanço dentre as teorias discutidas, refere-se a característica perceptível da derivada, pertencente ao mundo corporificado, pois esta desvincula-se de características processuais, propiciando dessa forma, oferecer um referencial base para novas investigações no processo de ensino e aprendizagem da derivada

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This thesis presents a study on the conceptions of equations held by students from first and second years of High School. Five mathematics teachers collaborated in the design of the instruments for data collection: a concept map, a questionnaire, a equation solving task and interviews. Two of these teachers were also responsible for the application of the instruments with their classes: one of first year students and one of second year students from a public school, and one of second year students from a private school, both from the Greater São Paulo area. The data collected was analysed in the light of the theoretical framework of the Three Worlds of Mathematics (Tall, 2004a, 2004b). This analysis is mainly focused on the embodied and symbolic worlds, and the met-befores and met-afters that interfere in the students work with equations. Results indicate that the most evident conception of equation among these students is equation as a calculation. The unknown and the equals sign do not seem to be important characteristics of an equation, and the main met-befores used by the students are from Arithmetic with integer numbers and from Algebra. The quadratic formula is the only solving method for quadratic equations that is used successfully, and it acts as a met-after in the work of some students with linear equations. The analysis shows that the students use techniques to solve equations which are disconnected from the mathematical principle of performing the same operation in both sides. The students create their own ways of working and end up using procedural embodiments, treating the symbols as physical entities that can be moved from one side to the other of the equation
Apresentamos, neste trabalho, um estudo sobre as concepções de equações apresentadas por alunos de primeira e segunda séries do Ensino Médio. Trabalhamos com cinco professores de Matemática, que colaboraram na confecção dos instrumentos de coleta de dados: um mapa conceitual, um questionário, uma atividade de resolução de equações e entrevistas. Dois desses professores, ainda, foram responsáveis pela aplicação dos instrumentos às turmas de alunos para as quais lecionavam: uma turma de primeira e uma de segunda séries do Ensino Médio, de uma escola pública, e uma turma de segunda série do Ensino Médio de uma escola particular, ambas as escolas localizadas na Grande São Paulo. Os dados coletados foram analisados à luz do quadro teórico dos Três Mundos da Matemática (Tall, 2004a, 2004b). Esta análise teve como enfoque, principalmente, os mundos corporificado e simbólico, e os já-encontrados e os a-encontrar que interferem no trabalho, com equações, feito pelos alunos. Os resultados obtidos indicam que a concepção de equação como conta é a mais evidente entre os sujeitos desta pesquisa. A incógnita e o sinal de igual não parecem ser considerados como características importantes de uma equação, e os principais já-encontrados usados são provenientes da Aritmética com números inteiros e da Álgebra. A fórmula de Bhaskara é o único método de resolução de equações quadráticas usado com sucesso, e age como a-encontrar no trabalho de alguns alunos com equações lineares. Evidências mostram que a resolução de equações é feita com o uso de técnicas desconectadas do princípio matemático de efetuar a mesma operação em ambos os membros. Os alunos criam seus próprios meios de trabalho, derivados dessas técnicas, e acabam por usar corporificações procedimentais, tratando os símbolos como entidades físicas que são movimentadas de um lado a outro da equação

碩士
國立臺東大學
教育研究所
95
Abstract This study using face-to-face interview and participant observation collects information, and understands two Paiwan students about the way of learning mathmatics, thought of mathmatics and factors of loving mathmatics through literature analysis and explaination, and hopes to get rid of the impression that aboriginal students are not good at mathmatics. Research results reveal : The main reason that the case likes mathematics and mathematics achievement is that the case itself has strong learning motivation, and good systems of family supports. A、 Strong learning motivation, come from: (1) Successful study experience; (2) Attitude of initiative study. B、 Good systems of family supports,including: (1) The pupil's education is begun by the infant; (2) Doing homework with the children; (3) Support of the physics environment - Books, desk; (4) The parent-offspring is in close relations; (5) Self-education is insufficient, and do the best to help children to study. It is according to the result and giving the suggects in family, teacher, school, follow-up to the aboriginal, and hope to construct mathematics suitable for the aboriginal and study the environment, home education environment together.

Linear algebra is one of the first advanced mathematics courses that students encounter at university level. The transfer from a primarily procedural or algorithmic school approach to an abstract and formal presentation of concepts through concrete definitions, seems to be creating difficulty for many students who are barely coping with procedural aspects of the subject. This research proposes applying APOS theory, in conjunction with Tall’s three worlds of embodied, symbolic and formal mathematics, to create a framework in order to examine the learning of a variety of linear algebra concepts by groups of first and second year university students. The aim is to investigate the difficulties in understanding some linear algebra concepts and to propose potential paths for preventing them. As part of this research project several case studies were conducted where groups of first and second year students were exposed to teaching and learning some introductory linear algebra concepts based on the framework and expressed their thinking through their involvements in tests, interviews and concept maps. The results suggest that the students had limited understanding of the concepts, they struggled to recognise the concepts in different registers, and their lack of ability in linking the major concepts became apparent. However, they also revealed that those with more representational diversity had more overall understanding of the concepts. In particular the embodied introduction of the concept proved a valuable adjunct to their thinking. Since difficulties with learning linear algebra by average students are universally acknowledged, it is anticipated that this study may provide suggestions with the potential for widespread positive consequences for learning.

This thesis focuses on to word problems and elementary school pupils. Research on mathematical word problems suggests that differences in success are not only due to different levels of pupils' cognitive abilities but that their motivation plays a role, too. Therefore, in this study, I focused on the context of word problem as a potential source of situational interest, which may affect the quality of pupils' cognitive function in the short term or permanently. I used my participation in a broader quantitatively oriented research on variables influencing the difficulty of word problems and using its methodology, I investigated the influence of different types of contexts on pupils' success in solving the problems. The examined aspect of context was attractiveness - the question was whether pupils would be more successful in solving word problems with elements of fairy tale, science fiction or humour than in similar problems with the same structure but with a neutral context. Pupils of the 3rd to 6th grades of primary school (n = 2 092) were divided into two groups of a comparable ability and each was presented with one of the variants - attractive or neutral. To evaluate the results quantitatively, the Item Response Theory was used allowed us to determine the difficulty of the problem depending on...