Research shows that students, and sometimes teachers, have trouble with fractions, especially conceiving of fractions as numbers that extend the whole number system. This paper explores how fractions are addressed in undergraduate mathematics courses for prospective elementary teachers (PSTs). In particular, we explore how, and whether, the…

The view of infinity as a metaphor, a basic premise of modern cognitive theory of embodied knowledge, suggests in particular that there may be alternative ways in which one could formalize mathematical ideas about infinity. We discuss the key ideas about infinitesimals via a proceptual analysis of the meaning of the ellipsis "..." in the real…

This report focuses on prospective secondary mathematics teachers' understanding of irrational numbers. Various dimensions of participants' knowledge regarding the relation between the two sets, rational and irrational, are examined. Three issues are addressed: richness and density of numbers, the fitting of rational and irrational numbers on the…

Children's responses to an alternative model over three lessons were described and their learning assessed in a posttest. Their responses and performances were compared to that of a similar group of children learning through a conventional number line model. The two models were compared from practical and theoretical viewpoints. (Author/CW)

Six-year-olds from Switzerland (n=30) and Argentina (15 middle- and 15 lower-class) were tested for understanding of inequalities between multidigit numbers and place value. Students could explain size relationships better than place value. The three types of children performed differently. (Contains 30 references.) (JAF)

Describes the development, refinement, and validation of a framework for nurturing and assessing multidigit number sense in young children. Major constructs incorporated were counting, partitioning, grouping, and number relationships. The framework was validated through case studies of six first-grade children. (30 references) (MKR)

Investigated (n=124) preservice school teachers' reasoning and concepts of invariance of fractional numbers under numeration systems in different bases. The majority of students believed that fractions change their numerical value under different symbolic representations. (Author/MKR)