The thesis is concerned with the introduction of complex num- bers. This topic is often perceived by pupils and students as very mysterious. This is often due to excessive formality, to which more time is devoted than to the illustrative geometrical concept of complex numbers. As a result, the important theorems achieved by complex numbers in the field of mathema- tics are consequently skipped. This thesis focuses on an illustrative geometric view on the field of complex numbers that will facilitate the understanding of related undergraduate curriculum. The text is written for readers at the upper grades of high school and first years of college. Examples are also included to create a coherent text useful for teaching and self-study. 1

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-27T16:59:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Claudia Vicente de Souza.pdf: 4735203 bytes, checksum: f54923f9fa64927f8d64f9f4a96c6d74 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-04-27 / Secretaria da Educação do Estado de São Paulo / This work arms is to analyze whether the activities presented in the Teacher´s Book contribute to the student´s on not understanding about the exponential function, and whether on not the students can make changes in the register of semiotic representation, according to Duval´s theory (2003). We also analyze if there is a variable approach in this book according to the Ursini´s et al (2005) 3UV model (Three Uses for the Variable). Our interest in doing this research started with the observation in classroom of the students´ low performance related to the studies of the functions and the analysis of the evaluations done by the São Paulo State Government, such as SARESP/2007, which presented as results Math students´ low academic performance. The research instrument consists of a review activity of powers and four activities related to the exponential function introduction, which are found in the Math Teacher´s Book of the High School first grade, third quarter of 2008. This document belongs to the São Paulo´s New Curriculum Proposal, 2008. The research presents a qualitative approach, using the methodology of Artigue´s Didactic Engineering (1996). The study counted on 14 high school students of the second grade from a state school located on the outskirts of the northwest region of São Paulo. Upon the results, we found out that there are difficulties in achieving changes in register of semiotic representation (register of the natural language for the algebraic register, register of table to register chart) and limitations regarding the identification of the variables as a functional relationship and unknown term. We believe that is the reflection of the difficulties which started from the beginning of the functions studies. As a positive aspect, we verified that some pairs in their graphic constructions approached the graph of the exponential function, thus demonstrating that they understand the idea of this function behavior / O presente trabalho tem como objetivo analisar se as atividades apresentadas no Caderno do Professor contribuem ou não para a compreensão do aluno a respeito do objeto Função Exponencial, e se os alunos conseguem realizar ou não as mudanças de registro de representação semiótica à luz da teoria de Duval (2003). Também analisamos se há neste Caderno uma abordagem das variáveis conforme o Modelo 3UV (Três Usos da Variável) de Ursini et al (2005). Nosso interesse em realizar essa pesquisa partiu da observação, em sala de aula, do baixo desempenho dos alunos referente ao estudo de funções e pela análise de avaliações realizadas pelo governo do Estado de São Paulo, tais como o SARESP/2007 que apresentou como resultados baixos índices de aproveitamento dos alunos em Matemática. O instrumento de pesquisa é composto de uma atividade de revisão de potências e quatro atividades referentes à introdução a Função Exponencial, encontradas no Caderno do Professor de Matemática da 1ª série do Ensino Médio do 3º bimestre de 2008, documento pertencente à Nova Proposta Curricular de 2008 do Estado de São Paulo. A pesquisa apresenta uma abordagem qualitativa, utilizando como metodologia a Engenharia Didática de Artigue (1996). O estudo contou com 14 alunos da 2ª série do Ensino Médio de uma escola da rede pública estadual, localizada na periferia da região noroeste de São Paulo. Diante dos resultados obtidos, constatamos que existem dificuldades quanto à realização das mudanças de registros de representação semiótica (registro da língua natural para o registro algébrico, registro de tabela para o registro gráfico) e limitações quanto à identificação das variáveis como uma relação funcional e termo desconhecido. Acreditamos que isso seja o reflexo das dificuldades iniciadas desde o início do estudo de funções. Como fator positivo, verificamos que algumas duplas em suas construções gráficas se aproximaram do gráfico da função exponencial, demonstrando, assim, que entendem a idéia do comportamento dessa função

The Theses deals with applications of mathematical knowledge in teaching biology and it is divided into four chapters. Each chapter is dedicated to another application: 1. Application of conditional probability in medical diagnostics, 2. Application of exponential function in population ecology, 3. Application of logic functions in mathematical modelation of neuron and 4. Aplication of binomial theorem and binomial distribution in genetics. Each application contains solved problems, a worksheet for students and a solution for each worksheet. Two application (1. and 2.) have been tested in teaching and as an assessment of my lessons students filled questionnaires. Results of these questionnaires are processed in the end of these chapters. This Thesis can be used in teaching or self-studying.