• School Mathematics
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.375-399
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• 2008

Infinitesimal did not play an explicit role concerning definite integral in the textbook nowadays. But studies which investigate understanding of students on definite integral show that many students comprehend definite integral with infinitesimal. Formally infinitesimal is not taught at mathematics classroom, but many students identify definite integral as infinite sum of infinitesimals. This means that definite integral itself contains some structural elements that allow infinitesimal interpretation. In this study we investigate the role of infinitesimal In the historical development of partition-sum in definite integral, extract didactical issues concerning understanding of definite integral, and analyse Korean mathematics textbooks. Finally we propose some suggestions on the teaching of definite integral which contains the process of refinement intuition.