The topic of sequences and series in the curriculum and textbooks for schools in England: A way to link number, algebra and geometry
The topic of sequences and series in the curriculum and textbooks for schools in England: A way to link number, algebra and geometry
The topic of sequences and series is important in mathematics and in a wide range of other disciplines. The mathematics of infinite series, in particular, has significant applications in physics, biology, economics, medicine and other disciplines. This paper provides an analysis of the topic of sequences and series in the curriculum and textbooks for schools in England. It shows that ideas about mathematical sequences begin to be taught in primary school and extent to cover sequences of natural numbers, often set in a geometrical context. Students in England who opt to continue with mathematics beyond age 16 study both arithmetic and geometric sequences, including the sum to infinity of a convergent geometric series. Further options at this age mean that some students study the summation of simple finite series and induction proofs for summation of series and for finding general terms. Overall, in the topic of sequences and series there are opportunities to link numeric, algebraic and geometric ideas.
mathematics, education, textbooks, curriculum
Jones, Keith
ea790452-883e-419b-87c1-cffad17f868f
November 2011
Jones, Keith
ea790452-883e-419b-87c1-cffad17f868f
Jones, Keith
(2011)
The topic of sequences and series in the curriculum and textbooks for schools in England: A way to link number, algebra and geometry.
2011 International Conference on School Mathematics Textbooks, , Shanghai, China.
12 - 14 Oct 2011.
8 pp
.
Record type:
Conference or Workshop Item
(Paper)
Abstract
The topic of sequences and series is important in mathematics and in a wide range of other disciplines. The mathematics of infinite series, in particular, has significant applications in physics, biology, economics, medicine and other disciplines. This paper provides an analysis of the topic of sequences and series in the curriculum and textbooks for schools in England. It shows that ideas about mathematical sequences begin to be taught in primary school and extent to cover sequences of natural numbers, often set in a geometrical context. Students in England who opt to continue with mathematics beyond age 16 study both arithmetic and geometric sequences, including the sum to infinity of a convergent geometric series. Further options at this age mean that some students study the summation of simple finite series and induction proofs for summation of series and for finding general terms. Overall, in the topic of sequences and series there are opportunities to link numeric, algebraic and geometric ideas.
Text
JonesK_sequences&series-England_ICSMT_2011
- Accepted Manuscript
More information
Published date: November 2011
Venue - Dates:
2011 International Conference on School Mathematics Textbooks, , Shanghai, China, 2011-10-12 - 2011-10-14
Keywords:
mathematics, education, textbooks, curriculum
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 445735
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/445735
PURE UUID: aedf45b9-d384-431d-818c-c12253266747
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Date deposited: 06 Jan 2021 17:45
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 10:25
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