Abstract

PACHUCA HERRERA, Yanira  and  ZUBIETA BADILLO, Gonzalo. Definitions and images of the concept of angle and its measurement among students who are beginning their undergraduate studies. Educ. mat. [online]. 2020, vol.32, n.1, pp.38-66.  Epub Dec 06, 2021. ISSN 2448-8089.  https://doi.org/10.24844/em3201.03.

The title of this paper causes a priori bewilderment, because the reader might consider that the concept of angle and its measurement is understood by students starting a bachelor’s degree; however, although some difficulties reported in investigations has been overcome, others still persist. In mathematics, the concept definition is relevant, however, in practice, students usually resort to the evoked concept image, which often makes it difficult for them to perform a specific task. A questionnaire was designed based on the notion of angle and its measurement. These questions were answered by 22 Mexican under-graduate students. To identify students’ images and definitions, the Tall and Vinner’s model was applied. We found a wide variety in the students’ personal definitions of angle, which are not memorization of definitions given in their courses or textbooks. In addition, they do not have a single image concept of angle and its measurement, because they evoked different images according to the problem to be solved.

Keywords : angle; angle measurement; concept definition; concept image; under-graduate level.