The historical process of disciplinarization of infinitesimal calculus in Brazil

Abstract

The discipline of Calculus has undergone several changes over the years, however, some of its characteristics have a long-standing record, such as the tension between rigor and intuition and the dichotomy in the teaching aimed at mathematicians and engineers. In order to describe the process of disciplinarization of Infinitesimal Calculus in Brazil throughout the twentieth century, a historical survey was carried out on the organization of mathematics teaching in important institutions in the country, highlighting the main educational reforms. The methodology adopted was textual and contextual analysis, applied to a series of textbooks that composed this process. The teaching spheres remained as secondary schools, technical schools and higher education. The research also allows establishing relations with the effects of the International Reform Movement in Brazil.