The History of Algebra in Mathematics Education

2006

In this chapter, we analyse key issues in algebra history from which some lessons can be extracted for the future of the teaching and learning of algebra. A comparative analysis of two types of pre-Vietan languages (before 16th century), and of the corresponding methods to solve problems, leads to conjecture the presence of didactic obstacles of an epistemological origin in the transition from arithmetic to algebraic thinking. This illustrates the value of historic and critical analysis for basic research design in mathematics education. Analysing the interrelationship between different evolution stages of the sign system of symbolic algebra and vernacular language supports the inference th…