A4 Article in conference proceedings
Adapting Formal Logic for Everyday Mathematics (2022)

Valmari, A. (2022). Adapting Formal Logic for Everyday Mathematics. In M. Cukurova, N. Rummel, D. Gillet, B. McLaren, & J. Uhomoibhi (Eds.), CSEDU 2022 : Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Computer Supported Education. Vol. 2 (pp. 515-524). SCITEPRESS - Science and Technology Publications. https://doi.org/10.5220/0011063300003182

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Valmari, Antti

Parent publication: CSEDU 2022 : Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Computer Supported Education. Vol. 2

Parent publication editors: Cukurova, Mutlu; Rummel, Nikol; Gillet, Denis; McLaren, Bruce; Uhomoibhi, James

Place and date of conference: Online, 22.-24.4.2022

eISBN: 978-989-758-562-3

eISSN: 2184-5026

Publication year: 2022

Pages range: 515-524

Publisher: SCITEPRESS - Science and Technology Publications

Publication country: Portugal

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5220/0011063300003182

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access:

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/81010

Abstract

Although logic is considered central to mathematics and computer science, there is evidence that teaching logic has not been a great success. We identify three issues where what is typically taught conflicts with what is needed by those who are supposed to apply logic. First, what is taught about the notion of implication often disagrees with human intuition. We argue that in some cases human intuition is wrong, and in some others teaching is to blame. Second, the formal concepts of logical consequence, logical equivalence and tautology are not the similar concepts that everyday mathematicians and computer scientists need. The difference is small enough to go unnoticed but big enough to cause confusion. Third, how to deal with undefined operations such as division by zero is left informal and perhaps fuzzy. These problems also harm development of computer tools for education. We present suggestions about how to address them in teaching.

Keywords: logic; mathematics; mathematical thinking; computer science; teaching and instruction; contradictions; inference; intuition

Free keywords: high school mathematics; elementary university mathematics; higher order thinking skills

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Preliminary JUFO rating: 0