Elementary mathematics
The term elementary mathematics (also called elementary mathematics ) are the equivalent of the higher mathematics those branches of mathematics summarized that deal with so-called elementary mathematical concepts and structures, with no uniform definition of terms exists. Elementary mathematics has historically a long tradition, may be partially associated with the field of school mathematics and the elementary level and continues to play a role in individual teacher education programs.
Term
Characteristic of the elementary mathematics is the relatively high vividness of the individual contents, while also life experiences or physics can be incorporated. In the second half of the 19th century the title was "elementary " used interchangeably with terms such as "basic", "free of border crossings ", " simple", "elegant" or " primitive". Today, those contents will be counted for elementary mathematics that deal with "simple basic concepts using special methods ". It mainly includes basic phrases, statements and axioms as well as related thoughts, some of which are not based on rigorous, axiomatic proofs, but can be derived with simple logical aids. On the other hand, the so-defined elements are also quite abstract, because they have the character of structural models such as the representation of vectors by arrows. A precise definition of the term does not exist.
The content of elementary mathematics are particularly addressed in the context of mathematics education, which is why the term is sometimes associated with " school mathematics ". Elementary mathematics is separated offered as a university course of study in connection with a teaching degree for primary, secondary and junior high school in which incorporated alongside mathematical content and didactic aspects and forms of the basis for technical studies.
History
The history of elementary mathematics is closely linked to the history of mathematics. It includes both the writings of the Rhind papyrus and developments by renowned mathematicians and philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle and Euclid. As a historical writings are, for example, the Elements of Euclid, Diophantus Arithmetica of and the arithmetic books of the Middle Ages. Hanfried Lenz grassland shall include the Éléments de mathématique by Nicolas Bourbaki from the 20th century.
Areas
Relevant literature leads among elementary mathematics on the following areas, where the sorting is done partially mixed:
- Numeracy and arithmetic
- Elementary algebra
- Analysis
- Proportions and equations
- Geometry ( planar, spatial, analytical and spherical geometry)
- Trigonometry ( plane and spherical trigonometry )
Be addressed in each basic mathematical relationships such as numbers, basic arithmetic, fraction arithmetic, powers and roots, logarithms, series, symmetry, elementary functions and the like. Furthermore, here and applied approaches to modeling such problems from daily life, see, for example, " compound interest " and the recreational mathematics, and considerations about combinatorics and probability theory.