How comparison of whole numbers is introduced in China, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia mathematics textbooks

Alafaleq, Manahel, Mailizar, Mailizar, Wang, Yi and Fan, Lianghuo (2015) How comparison of whole numbers is introduced in China, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia mathematics textbooks. ICMI Study 23 Conference, Macau Special Administrative Region, China.

Abstract

The comparison of whole numbers is a fundamental concept as well as a skill that should be introduced to young learners in mathematics. However, studies on how this important topic is presented in mathematics textbooks is rarely reported and discussed in research literature. This study is intended to examine how equality and inequality of whole numbers are introduced in primary mathematics textbooks in China, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. Six textbooks were selected from these three countries, and then the textbooks were analyzed with a focus on the examples of comparison of whole numbers presented in the main text of these textbooks. Findings revealed a high level of consistency in the way of introducing the comparison of whole number in the textbooks across the three countries. However, differences were also found in term of contexts employed and grade levels of the introduction. The paper provides a contemporary documentation about the approaches to the comparison of whole numbers in mathematics textbooks in different countries concerned. Possible reasons for the similarities and differences were also discussed in the paper.

This record has no associated files available for download.

Contributors

Download statistics