ERIC Number: EJ1208770
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019-Mar
Pages: 35
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-8251
EISSN: N/A
Linguistic Conventions of Mathematical Proof Writing at the Undergraduate Level: Mathematicians' and Students' Perspectives
Lew, Kristen; Mejía-Ramos, Juan Pablo
Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, v50 n2 p121-155 Mar 2019
This study examined the genre of undergraduate mathematical proof writing by asking mathematicians and undergraduate students to read 7 partial proofs and identify and discuss uses of mathematical language that were out of the ordinary with respect to what they considered conventional mathematical proof writing. Three main themes emerged: First, mathematicians believed that mathematical language should obey the conventions of academic language, whereas students were either unaware of these conventions or unaware that these conventions applied to proof writing. Second, students did not fully understand the nuances involved in how mathematicians introduce objects in proofs. Third, mathematicians focused on the context of the proof to decide how formal a proof should be, whereas students did not seem to be aware of the importance of this factor.
Descriptors: Mathematical Logic, Validity, Undergraduate Students, Student Attitudes, Mathematics, Professional Personnel, Mathematics Teachers, College Mathematics
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. 1906 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191. Tel: 800-235-7566; Tel: 703-620-9840; Fax: 703-476-2570; e-mail: NCTM@nctm.org; Web site: http://www.nctm.org/publications/journal-for-research-in-mathematics-education
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A