Approach Given to the History of Mathematics in Textbooks

Abstract

The History of Mathematics is an important tool to assist the teacher in the teaching of mathematics and in the learning performance of students. This work studies the History of Mathematics and its main objective is to analyze the methodological approach given to the History of Mathematics in the textbooks of the final years of Elementary School. Theoretically, we rely on Miguel and Miorim (2004), Mendes (2016) and Mendes and Chaquiam (2016). In addition, four Mathematics textbooks are analyzed, for classes from sixth to ninth grade of Elementary School, the collection The Conquest of Mathematics by the authors José Ruy Giovanni Júnior and Benedicto Castrucci was analyzed. The results of the research were obtained because although the work presents contents, images and activities about the History of Mathematics, there is still little approach in the books of the fifth and sixth years, however, it is worth mentioning that there are several moments that prove the existence of a greater implementation of the History of Mathematics in the last two books of the collection. It is known that the History of Mathematics emerges as a teaching methodology to provide interdisciplinarity, thus by potentially vast means to promote teaching and learning, relating the meanings to the reality of the students enabled a more meaningful and at the same time more pleasurable learning.