Dependence of Mathematical Errors on Mathematical Thinking Style

Abstract

The results of research of creative mathematical thinking have been analyzed and the expediency of studying its individual differences through the analysis of mental styles of solving mathematical problems has been stated. The aim of the article is to identify the reasons of students’ mathematical errors and to analyze the influence of mathematical thinking style on the reasons and sense of mathematical errors in the process of solving creative mathematical tasks. To identify and determine the essence of mathematical thinking styles, the method of analysis of search actions of subjects during the solution of mathematical problems of different classes was used. The results of the research. It is stated that mathematical thinking style is a holistic system of interconnected actions, by means of which the mental mathematical result is achieved. It has been found that mental errors occurred at all stages of the search process of students with different mathematical thinking styles. Differences in mathematical thinking styles become the basis of the content of errors. There are three groups of causes of mental errors: ignorance, low-quality analogy, irrelevance of links. Different influence of ignorance on the search actions of students with different styles of mathematical thinking is proved. It is stated that the introduction of low-quality analogy in different styles of mathematical thinking is different in content. It was found that the irrelevance of references and conclusions has a different nature in the thinking of students with different thinking mathematical styles. Conclusions. Thinking style is manifested throughout the process of solving a mathematical problem, provides a different content of the search process, through which a positive mathematical result is achieved or leads to mental errors.

Keywords

• creative mathematical thinking
• mathematical thinking styles
• mathematical errors