The study of loops and spaces in mathematics has been the subject of much interest among researchers. In Part 1 of "The Theory on Loops and Spaces," published in the "Mathematics Teaching Research Journal," introduced the concept and the basic underlying idea of this theory. This article continues the exploration of this topic…

A group of eighth-graders was presented with a two-day lab exploring graph theory as an enrichment experience. With the school's winter break looming, students were weary of solving linear equations, and this topic was intended to inject some new life into the classroom. In addition to learning about a completely new topic, they would be exposed…

We are all fascinated by loops and their formation in space. When a line cuts itself, it forms an intersection point and creates a space. This is an experimental study done by analyzing several loops, forming a concrete formulation by visualizing the patterns observed, and then proving the formulations proposed using the known standard…

This work provides a characterization of the learning of graph theory through the lens of the van Hiele model. For this purpose, we perform a theoretical analysis structured through the processes of reasoning that students activate when solving graph theory problems: recognition, use and formulation of definitions, classification, and proof. We…

Problem decomposition into sub-problems or subgoals and recomposition of the solutions to the subgoals into one complete solution is a common strategy to reduce difficulties in structured problem solving. In this study, we use a datadriven graph-mining-based method to decompose historical student solutions of logic-proof problems into Chunks. We…

This study attempts to describe characteristics of graph thinking in solving a mathematical problem. Three students at the 10th grade of senior-high schools were involved as the subject. The data was collected from the result of an optimization problem task (OPT), video recording, interviews, and field notes. The results showed two major…

The need to develop consistent theoretical frameworks for the teaching and learning of discrete mathematics, specifically of graph theory, has attracted the attention of the researchers in mathematics education. Responding to this demand, the scope of the Van Hiele model has been extended to the field of graphs through a proposal of four levels of…

In this study, we investigated one student as she engaged in the exploration of a graph theory problem, the Graceful Tree Conjecture. The study took place in a classroom in the Midwestern United States which contained eighteen students. We report on a descriptive case study of one student, Heidi, as she works her way through different classes of…

This paper addresses the need for empirical research on the processes by which students create algorithms. I analyse the collaborative work of three high-school students on a contextualised graph theory task, in which they created an algorithm for maximising the happiness score of a seating arrangement. The group found an optimal arrangement but…

In this study, we investigate students' ways of understanding graphing tasks involving quantitative relationships in which time functions as an implicit variable. Through task-based interviews of students ages 14-16 in a summer mathematics program, we observe a variety of ways of understanding, including thematic or visual association, pointwise…

This work is an exploration of upper elementary students' sense making around four conventional representations of function: equations with algebraic notation, Cartesian graphs, function tables, and natural language. The cornerstone to the empirical work is a task called the Function Puzzle, where students are given 16 cards representing four…

This research was motivated by several studies which show that students have difficulties in understanding the material ratio, wherein one contributing factor is the lack of ability in proportional reasoning. The purpose of this study is to produce a trajectory of learning to help students develop abilities in comparison reasoning. Solution…

The Tower of Hanoi is an old, popular, and engaging puzzle. It is an exceptional puzzle too considering how effective it can be in engendering multiple valuable outcomes when used as a tool for learning. One of the fundamental goals of mathematics teacher preparation is to enable the prospective teacher to develop mathematical habits of mind and…

Implementing an integrated sequence of concrete-representational-abstract depictions of mathematics concepts (CRA-I) can improve the mathematics achievement of students with disabilities, and explicit instructional strategies involving problem-solving heuristics and student verbalizations can help facilitate students' conceptual understanding of…

Successful algebraic problem solving entails adaptability of solution methods using different representations. Prior research has suggested that students are more likely to prefer symbolic solution methods (equations) over graphical ones, even when graphical methods should be more efficient. However, this research has not tested how representation…