The “Math as Prerequisite” Illusion: Historical Considerations and Implications for Physics Teaching

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Mathematics is widely considered to be a prerequisite for learning physics. However, it is quite naive to believe that learning basic math is sufficient to use mathematics as a reasoning tool to think about the physical world. The main reason is that using mathematics in physics is substantially different than in math. In this chapter we show how the way physicists make use of some basic mathematical concepts (e.g., multiplication, division, functions) is specific to physics by identifying their historical genesis and contrasting with the way these concepts are usually taught in math lessons. We argue that the explicit acknowledgment of these differences has important didactical implications.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMathematics in Physics Education
EditorsGesche Pospiech, Marisa Michelini, Bat-Sheva Eylon
PublisherSpringer
Publication date2019
Pages37-52
Chapter2
ISBN (Print)978-3-030-04626-2
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-030-04627-9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019

ID: 227987613