Why Mathematics? What Mathematics?

“Why do I have to learn mathematics? What do I need it for?” When I was a school student, it never occurred to me to ask these questions, nor do I remember hearing it from any of my classmates. “Why do I need history?”—yes. “Why Latin?” (yes, as a high school student I was supposed to study this anc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Best Writing on Mathematics 2013 Vol. 4; pp. 130 - 142
Main Author Sfard, Anna
Format Book Chapter
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Princeton University Press 19.01.2014
Subjects
Academic aptitude
Applied psychology
Behavioral sciences
Cognitive processes
Cognitive psychology
Curricula
Education
Educational psychology
Formal education
Language
Learning
Linguistics
Mathematical analysis
Mathematical aptitude
Mathematical induction
Mathematical objects
MATHEMATICS
Mathematics curricula
Mathematics education
Numeracy
Pedagogy
Political communication
Political discourse
Political science
Political sociology
Popular science
Psychology
Sayings
Science education
Slogans
Vernacular language
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Summary:“Why do I have to learn mathematics? What do I need it for?” When I was a school student, it never occurred to me to ask these questions, nor do I remember hearing it from any of my classmates. “Why do I need history?”—yes. “Why Latin?” (yes, as a high school student I was supposed to study this ancient language)—certainly. But not, “Why mathematics?” The need to deal with numbers, geometric figures, and functions was beyond doubt, and mathematics was unassailable. Things changed. Today, every other student seems to ask why we need mathematics. Over the years, the
ISBN:9780691160412
0691160414
DOI:10.1515/9781400847990-015