Construction Process of the Length of 3√2 by Paper Folding

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to investigate mathematics teachers‟ mathematical thinking process while they are constructing the length of 3√2 by paper folding. To carry out this aim, two teachers -who are PhD. students- were interviewed one by one. During the construction, it was possible to observe the consolidation process of Pythagorean and Thales Theorem. All interviews were videotaped and analyzed through descriptive methods, according to abstraction in context, characteristics of consolidation and mathematical habits of mind. It was found that both two teachers constructed the knowledge of Pythagorean and Thales Theorems before the study and also these knowledges were consolidated. In addition, it was determined that these two approaches (abstraction in context and mathematical habits of mind) were close and corroborated each other. Moreover, consolidation process corroborated mathematical habits of mind.