Changes of Meanings in Multiplication across Different Contexts: The Case of Amy and Beth

Kin Eng Chin; Fui Fong Jiew

doi:10.29333/ejmste/108440

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Kin Eng Chin ¹ ^* , Fui Fong Jiew ²

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¹ Flinders University, Adelaide, AUSTRALIA² Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Sabah, MALAYSIA^* Corresponding Author

Abstract

This article focuses on how two mathematics teachers (Amy and Beth – pseudonyms) cope with the changes of meanings in multiplication due to the changes of contexts. It highlights the qualitative similarities and differences between these two teachers in the sense-making process of multiplication. A potentially useful framework of supportive and problematic conceptions suggested by Chin (2013) and Chin (2014) is employed in this study. Interviews are performed with Amy and Beth in order to collect the necessary data. Findings reveal that both teachers try to make sense of multiplication by building on the conception of repeated addition across different number systems. When multiplication is operated with negative numbers then problematic aspects emerge within the conception of repeated addition. It is observed that both teachers didn’t build on the meaning of repeated addition in the multiplication of fractions.

Keywords

changes of meanings
multiplication
problematic conception
sense-making
supportive conception

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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed, 2019, Volume 15, Issue 8, Article No: em1739

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/108440

Publication date: 11 Apr 2019

Article Views: 1885

Article Downloads: 2819

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How to cite this article

APA

Chin, K. E., & Jiew, F. F. (2019). Changes of Meanings in Multiplication across Different Contexts: The Case of Amy and Beth. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 15(8), em1739. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/108440

Vancouver

Chin KE, Jiew FF. Changes of Meanings in Multiplication across Different Contexts: The Case of Amy and Beth. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2019;15(8):em1739. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/108440

AMA

Chin KE, Jiew FF. Changes of Meanings in Multiplication across Different Contexts: The Case of Amy and Beth. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2019;15(8), em1739. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/108440

Chicago

Chin, Kin Eng, and Fui Fong Jiew. "Changes of Meanings in Multiplication across Different Contexts: The Case of Amy and Beth". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education 2019 15 no. 8 (2019): em1739. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/108440

Harvard

Chin, K. E., and Jiew, F. F. (2019). Changes of Meanings in Multiplication across Different Contexts: The Case of Amy and Beth. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 15(8), em1739. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/108440

MLA

Chin, Kin Eng et al. "Changes of Meanings in Multiplication across Different Contexts: The Case of Amy and Beth". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, vol. 15, no. 8, 2019, em1739. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/108440