Old algebra textbooks: a resource for modern teaching

Abstract

This paper is the result of a comparative literature study aimed at identifying relevant historical mathematical contexts that may be applicable to present day mathematics education. Five Swedish textbooks in algebra from the period around the year 1800 are scrutinized. A content analysis and a comparison between seven categories shows that there exist several historical features that may be used in teaching. These have the potential to serve both teachers and learners of mathematics.

Notes

¹ Research in Sweden investigating the influence of mathematics history in present mathematics education practice is quite sparse, but some dissertations and licentiate theses have examined old mathematics textbooks: Hatami (2007), Prytz (2007), Kilhamn (2011), and Lundberg (2011).

² http://libris.kb.se/

³ See http://www.linkoping.se/sv/Kultur-fritid/Linkopings-stadsbibliotek/Lokalhistoria-och-aldre-samlingar/Stiftsbibliotekets-historia/ and use the translation link at the top.