AIMS OF TEACHING MATHEMATICS

OBJECTIVES OF TEACHING MATHEMATICS

Objectives are the specific and precise behavioural outcome of teaching particular topic in mathematics . The objectives of a topic in mathematics helps in realising some general aims of teaching mathematics . It is possible  to realise all the aims of teaching mathematics within the framework of curriculum . Objectives are easily attainable direct and practical in nature . It is milestones to reach the destination . A teacher's focus of his daily teaching should be on such short term goals called objectives .

OBJECTIVES OF TEACHING MATHEMATICS AT PRIMARY STAGE

The major objectives related to various aims of teaching mathematics at primary level are as follows

A. Knowledge and understanding objectives .
1  . To develop the concept of numbers , units of measurements , counting etc.
2 . To develop the concept of sizes and shape , concept of direction and distance and concept of fractions .
3 . To give knowledge of four fundamental  operations , percentage , simple interest , areas , profit and loss , solids , income and expenditure , decimal notation .
4 . To give knowledge of arithmetic terms , symbols for fundamental operations .
5 . To give knowledge of the meaning and significance of zero , concept like LCM and HCF.
6. To give knowledge of different tables .

B. Objectives related to skill and abilities

1. To develop the ability of reading , writing and counting different numbers .
2. To develop the ability to use for fundamental operations of addition , subtraction , multiplication and division .
3. To develop skills of using fundamental rules of measurements in daily life  .
4. To develop ability to use tables .
5. To develop skills to draw different geometrical figures and shape .
6. To develop speed and accuracy in solving oral and written problems in mathematics .

C . Application Objectives

1. To enable the child to understand the application elementary mathematical problems .
2 . To enable the child to apply elementary mathematical concepts and process day to day life .
3. Ability to use elementary mathematical concept in relevant situations .

D . Attitude Objectives

1. To develop habit of critical thinking and logical reasoning .
2. To develop self confidence in solving elementary problems .
3 . To develop habit of regularity , punctuality , accuracy and honesty .
4 . To develop habit of accept things only when logically proved .

E . Appreciation and Interest Objectives

1 . Appreciation the role of mathematics in problem solving problems of other branches of science .
2 . Appreciate  contributions of various mathematicians to human progress .
3 . Reads literature on mathematics.
4 . Solving mathematical puzzles .
5 . Gives short cuts for solving mathematical problems .

OBJECTIVES OF MATHEMATICS OF SECONDARY OR PRIMARY SCHOOL STAGE

1. To develop thinking and reasoning power of the child .
2 . To develop problem-solving attitude of the children .
3 . To develop the sense of accuracy and consistency .
4 . To enable child to understand the applications of different branches of mathematics
5 . To enable the child to understand the concept and various problems of mathematics .
6 . To make the child logical and critical thinker .
7 . To develop interest in mathematics .
8 . To enable the child to correlate the knowledge of mathematics with other school subjects .
9 . To develop the power of concentration  and decision making .
10. To enable the child to understand  the symbolic language of mathematics .
11 . To help the child creative , constructive and research minded .
12 . To make the child creative , constructive and research minded .
13 . To create awareness regarding day to day development in the field of mathematics .

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathematics

HISTORY OF MATHEMATICS

Mathematics holds the mirror upto civilisation. It is no exaggeration to say that the history of mathematics is the history of civilisation . mathematics can take pride in the fact that their science , more than any other's is an exact science ,and that hardly anything ever done in mathematics has proved to be useless . The geometry of the Greeks and the arithmetic of the Hindus are as useful and admirable as any research of today . Mathematics has been a progressive science .

VALUE OF MATHEMATICS

History of mathematics has not so far been given any place in it's curriculum , simply because no time can be made available for its study when the already heavy courses have to be covered . Moreover , there has not been any serious realisation of the benefit which can possibly be had from this study . But once introduced , it is sure to become a source of interest and pleasure to the learners . It's values can be explained as follows;

1. Mathematics will be presented as a dynamic and progressive subject , full of human interest .
2. It will be instructive and interesting ; it will not only remind us of what we have , but will also teach us how to increase our store of knowledge .
3. it warns the learner against hasty conclusions . 
4. Many mathematical topics can be better introduced in the class by discussing their history .
5. It saves the student from attaking an unsolved problem by the same method which has led other mathematicians to failure .
6. it is important also as a valuable contribution to the history of civilisation . Mathematical and physical researches are a reliable record of intellectual progress . It is one of the large windows through which the philosophic eye looks into past ages and traces the line of intellectual development . 
7. It reveals, that, at every stage , major or significant development of mathematics was conditioned by human needs .
8. Most of the teams , concepts and conventions can be properly understood only by reference to their historical background .

THE ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS AND MATHEMATICS

Mathematics is a man-made science . Ancient men also felt their concern with this branch of knowledge . Through their conclusions were not very accurate , yet their efforts were quite serious and genuine . They were , of course, motivated in their attempts by their social needs . Even in the most ancient times they must have done their best on the computation front of their life . They had their limitations , no doubt . Most of them made astonishing and interesting mathematical discoveries . 

THE BABYLONIANS

The study of Babylonians mathematics begins with the notation of numbers . A vertical wedge stood for 1 , while the characters signified 10 and 100 respectively . In this connection the most surprisingly fact is that their notational system discloses the use not only of the above decimal system , but also of the sexagesimal one . There are two Babylonian tables which exhibit the use of the letter .One of them , probably written between 2300 and 1600 B.C., contains a table of square numbers up to 60 square. It was assumed that the early Babylonians reckoned the year at 360 days , that this led to the division of the circle into 360 degree and it's further division into six segments of 60 degrees each . It has also been found that Babylonians possessed the knowledge of multiplication and division tables , tables of squares and square root , of geometric progression , a Few computations , and the rules for finding the area's of squares , triangles , and right triangles . Most probably ,Plato got the knowledge of the number from the Pythagoreans , and the Pythagoreans from the Babylonians . They were the worshippers of heavenly bodies . They had some calculation about the new and full moon and the eclipses .

THE EGYPTIANS

The Egyptians built the pyramids at very early period .