The Concept of Understanding in Mathematics Textbooks in Iceland

Abstract

The importance of understanding concepts and procedures is emphasized in most mathematics textbooks written in Iceland, from the earliest writings in Icelandic up to present day. Simultaneously, assertions are found at regular intervals that the emphasis on understanding is a novelty, not promoted in earlier times. In order to analyze what lies behind these statements, the literary meaning of the Icelandic word “skilja”, usually translated as “understand”, will be compared to the corresponding words in Danish, English and Latin, and related to the modern sense of understanding in mathematics.