Study On The Comparison Of Mathematics Textbooks In Senior High School Based On Mathematical History

The history of mathematics has extremely important value for mathematics education and can give play to the educational function of mathematical culture.Chinese mathematics curriculum standard for senior high school under the revision now takes mathematical culture as a theme throughout the setup of compulsory courses and elective courses and the history of mathematics as an important part of mathematical culture will get more attention in the new mathematics course and mathematics curriculum standard for senior high school.The fusion of mathematical history into mathematics education in primary and middle schools has become a hot research topic in the field of mathematics education at home and abroad.There exist large differences in terms of the fusion of mathematical history between Chinese and English mathematics textbooks of senior high school.Therefore,the research about the fusion of mathematical history into Chinese and English textbooks and the comparison of the differences and similarities between them can help us obtain a richer understanding about the fusion of mathematical history into textbooks and know about their advantages and disadvantages,from which we can acquire enlightenment about the integration between mathematical history and mathematics textbooks of senior high school.The paper selects the Chinese A version mathematics textbooks of senior high school published by People's Education Press(short for PEP)and the English 2010 version mathematics textbooks from EDEXCEL examination committee(short for EDEXCEL)as the research subjects,and analyses and comprises the history of mathematics appearing in the two versions' mathematics textbooks of senior high school from such dimensions as content,quantity,knowledge area,column distribution,classification,the style of utilization and country and so on,obtaining the following research results:Firstly,in terms of the quantity,the total quantity of mathematical history is lager in PEP than that in EDEXCEL.But the quantities of mathematical history distributing in every book of EDEXCEL are relatively balanced than that in PEP.Secondly,in the aspect of the knowledge area,there does not exist significant difference between the two version textbooks.The distribution of mathematical history in six knowledge areas is not balanced for both of the two version textbooks.And it is the same for PEP and EDEXCEL to involve less content of mathematical history in the two knowledge areas of function and mathematical modeling and refer to the most content of mathematical history in the knowledge areas of algebra.Thirdly,with respect to the column distribution,there exists a very significant difference between the two version textbooks.The distribution of mathematical history in PEP focuses on such two columns as the special column and the annotation;and the distribution in EDEXCEL places emphasis on the columns of the introduction and the main body.Both of the two version textbooks have a small proportion of the distribution of mathematical history in the exercise and summary column.Fourthly,in regard to the classification,there is significant difference between the two version textbooks.PEP pays more attention to the stories of mathematics and mathematicians;while EDEXCEL lays stress on the origin and development of mathematics.From the point of proportion,EDEXCEL has a higher proportion in the two kinds of mathematical history of the origin and development of mathematics and mathematical thinking methods than that in PEP.Fifthly,when referring to the style of utilization,there does not exist significant difference between the two version textbooks.The history of mathematics of additional type accounts for a large proportion,and the second is style of ornament.Such two types of implicit utilization as compliant and reconstructive mathematical history have a small percentage in both of the two version textbooks,but it is higher in PEP than that in EDEXCEL.Sixthly,in terms of involved countries,mathematical history in PEP mentions more countries and PEP has a large quantity about involved countries.The country that is mentioned most times is France in both of the two version textbooks.Based on the above research results,this paper puts forward some proposals about the fusion of mathematical history into Chinese mathematics textbooks in senior high school as following:1.Adjusting the distribution of mathematical history in every knowledge area;2.Balancing the column distribution of mathematical history;3.Paying attention to mathematical thinking methods,the process and its application of producing and developing mathematics4.Strengthening the level of applying mathematical history.