Abstract
In contemporary mathematical practice, the primary importance of proof is the advantage it provides to users: proofs enable very high levels of reliability. This essay explores use of this sort of proof, and methods mathematicians use to implement them, in pre-college mathematics. Examples include methods for multiplying integers (including large ones), multiplication of polynomials, solving equations, and standardizing quadratic functions. The point of view also reveals drawbacks of real-world applications (word problems).
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Notes
- 1.
First, Outer, Inner, Last.
- 2.
Tests with this sort of functionality are a goal of the EduTE X project (Quinn 2009).
- 3.
A term from the computational software community, where this is a serious problem.
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Quinn, F. (2012). Contemporary Proofs for Mathematics Education. In: Hanna, G., de Villiers, M. (eds) Proof and Proving in Mathematics Education. New ICMI Study Series, vol 15. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2129-6_10
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2129-6_10
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