A etnomatemática do campo: um estudo acerca das unidades de medidas utilizadas por agricultores e produtores rurais de Araçagi-PB

Abstract

Ethnomathematics is an approach that considers the understanding of the applications of mathematical reasoning in light of the social and cultural context of specific groups. This study focused on farmers and rural producers in the municipality of Araçagi, Paraíba, analyzing how they use mathematics in their daily activities. The objective was to identify mathematical concepts of quantities and measurements present in the daily activities of farmers and rural producers in the city of Araçagi-PB. Due to its focus, the study is qualitative research, exploratory in nature and, in terms of the methods used, a case study. Based on the study carried out and readings of the main works and researchers, Ubiratan D’Ambrosio (1996, 2002, 2005, 2013), Oliveira (2019). Semi-structured interviews were carried out with five professionals, revealing the presence of Ethnomathematics in their practices, such as measuring by fathoms to measure length, calculating the amount of fertilizer per area, operations in the vegetable trade, distance between holes for planting, profit calculations, poison dilution. It is important to highlight that this mathematical knowledge was acquired informally from family members, regardless of varying levels of education. Even among those who declared themselves illiterate, the use of mathematical reasoning was evident. Thus, this study highlighted the presence of mathematical concepts in the lives of these farmers and rural producers, learned through cultural practices and not expressed formally as in school mathematics, being essential to the lives of individuals, highlighting the importance of this knowledge for life everyday. As a future perspective, the inclusion of this knowledge in basic education is suggested, promoting a more inclusive and contextualized approach to mathematics.