A Comparison Of Mathematics Textbooks’ Examples And Exercises Between Chinese PEP-A And American UCSMP

This paper makes a comparative mathematics textbooks’ study of examples and exercises’ design of “TrigonometricFunctions” in high school between American UCSMP and Chinese PEP-A from the aspect of surface and profoundness.Through the comparative analysis of examples and exercises between two countries, it is concluded that existing in thesimilarities and differences as following.First,the similarities and differences of examples as following.About the similarities：1、The proportion of knowledge and examples is basically consistent.2、Priority are given to examples with no background.3、Text features and problem-solving strategies of samples are single relatively.4、They are better reflected about the typical characteristics of examples.About the differences:1、There are big differences in designing of the distribution of the types, columns and illustrations.2、Examples of knowledge correlation exists bigger difference.3、There are big differences between new knowledge using demonstration and thinking skills demonstration.4、Difficulty level of examples exists difference.Second, the similarities and differences of exercises as following.About the similarities:1、Putting on the prevention of no background exercises, and supplemented by a small amount of practical problems.2、Text features and problem-solving strategies of exercises is relative single.About the differences:1、There is very disparity between the number of exercises.2、Types and distribution of exercises have their own priority respectively.3、American textbook exercises’set of columns is more rich and varied.4、American textbook exercises have a large number of illustrations, and their species are richer and more various.5、There are big differences in hierarchy and variant of exercises.6、There is a big difference in the presentation of exercises introduced new content.Based on the above the analysis of the similarities and differences between bilateral textbook examples and exercises, I putforward some advices on the compilation of textbook examples and exercises. First, examples should reflect the thinking process,they should be convenient for the students to master the ways of thinking and help to improve the level of thinking. Second,pay more attention to diversity types of exercises, reinforce students’ awareness and abilities of analyzing and solving problems.Third, use of illustration properly, the excises combining with chart and graphic, and strengthen the readability of the textbooks.Fourth, adjust the view of exercise materials to draw to make it closer to students’ real life. Fifth, to further highlight the exampleexercise levels, pay attention to the development of the different needs of students.Last but not least, examples and exercisesdesigned to encourage the students’ participation, and mobilize students’ initiative and the enthusiasm.