Estudando conteúdos matemáticos com direcionamentos de modelagem matemática: o caso da função afim

Abstract

This research consists on working with mathematical functions through contributions made by the Mathematical Modeling practice, using a model which allows the educator to develop a search for interaction using mathematics contextualized in the students‟ reality. Thus, opposite to the more traditional teaching methods, this study indicates the possibility of understanding content related to affine functions, based on the results obtained in a group composed by four students from first year of high school in Brazil and, methodologically, using the mathematical modeling for this purpose. This research is divided in five chapters that seek to guide the educator to the initial importance of the functions content in the Brazilian education, the practical lessons targeted to students in a field research, which sought to bring the subject closer to the students‟ reality through a problem-situation involving students in a pizzeria near the school. Hence, reality and mathematics become inextricable tools for students to understand common situations, that incorporate the subject to a variety of experiences, ensuring teachers and students wide possibilities to develop together an understanding of this subject, with the necessary interaction to accomplish quality learning.