WHEN ELEMENTARY SUBTRACTION DOES NOT RESULT IN ZERO: EPISTEMOLOGICAL TENSIONS BETWEEN SCHOOL ARITHMETIC AND MICROSOFT EXCEL IN CONTRAST WITH OTHER DIGITAL SPREADSHEETS
Abstract
Digital calculation tools play a central role in mediating mathematics teaching and are widely used in both educational and professional contexts. However, numerically non-intuitive outputs presented in elementary arithmetic operations may generate significant epistemological tensions in the learning process. This study investigates a specific case involving mathematically equivalent expressions with decimal numbers containing a single decimal place, in which the insertion of parentheses leads to the display of non-zero values in a widely used spreadsheet environment, Microsoft Excel, while other digital tools produce null numerical responses for the same operations. The analysis does not address internal numerical processing mechanisms, focusing exclusively on the values displayed to users and their educational and interpretative implications. From an instructional perspective, such numerical manifestations are frequently interpreted by learners as direct representations of formal mathematics, without a clear distinction between computational models and the arithmetic principles taught in school. Consequently, cognitive conflicts may arise concerning the understanding of equality, algebraic equivalence, and the fundamental properties of decimal subtraction. The study contributes to critical reflection on the pedagogical use of digital technologies in contemporary mathematics education.
Author Biography
Escritor e Professor Universitário em temas relacionados às ciências exatas e às Tecnologias Educacionais. Mestre em Ciências Naturais e Matemática pela Universidade Regional de Blumenau - FURB (2012). Especialista em Metodologia do Ensino de Matemática - IBPEX (2006). Bacharel em Ciências Contábeis pela Universidade da Região de Joinville - UNIVILLE (2000). Possui formação Pedagógica de Docentes pelo Centro Universitário de Jaraguá do Sul - UNERJ (2006). É professor no ensino profissional e tecnológico, nas modalidades (ensino profissional técnico de nível médio, ensino profissional tecnológico de graduação e pós-graduação).
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