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Cultural Development of Mathematical Ideas

Cultural Development of Mathematical Ideas Papua New Guinea Studies - Learning in Doing

Hardback (15 Nov 2012)

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Publisher's Synopsis

Drawing upon field studies conducted in 1978, 1980 and 2001 with the Oksapmin, a remote Papua New Guinea group, Geoffrey B. Saxe traces the emergence of new forms of numerical representations and ideas in the social history of the community. In traditional life, the Oksapmin used a counting system that makes use of twenty-seven parts of the body; there is no evidence that the group used arithmetic in prehistory. As practices of economic exchange and schooling have shifted, children and adults unwittingly reproduced and altered the system in order to solve new kinds of numerical and arithmetical problems, a process that has led to new forms of collective representations in the community. While Dr Saxe's focus is on the Oksapmin, the insights and general framework he provides are useful for understanding shifting representational forms and emerging cognitive functions in any human community.

About the Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Cambridge University Press dates from 1534 and is part of the University of Cambridge. We further the University's mission by disseminating knowledge in the pursuit of education, learning and research at the highest international levels of excellence.

Book information

ISBN: 9780521761666
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Imprint: Cambridge University Press
Pub date:
DEWEY: 155.849912
DEWEY edition: 23
Language: English
Number of pages: 362
Weight: 670g
Height: 234mm
Width: 160mm
Spine width: 22mm