Entaglements of circles, phi and strings

Abstract

This study focuses on the entanglements of material discursive agents in a mathematical explorative activity, where learners systematically investigate the properties of the circle. A diffractive methodology is used to explore the emerging intra-activity in-between the teacher, the learners, different teaching materials, the mathematical concepts and formulas, as abstract and concrete aspects of mathematics education are set in motion. The results show that concrete material-discursive agents, such as strings, rulers and bodies are entangled with abstract mathematical concepts such as circumference, formulas and phi.