Ethnomathematics in the construction of wells and pools and food products in fish farming in Suan-Atlántico, Colombia Etnomatemáticas en la construcción de pozos y albercas y productos alimenticios en la piscicultura de Suan-Atlántico, Colombia

Abstract

This research explored the ethnomathematics immersed in the construction of wells and pools and food products in the fish farming developed in Suan, Atlántico. The research was based on Ethnomathematics (mathematics practiced by cultural groups) and was developed under a qualitative methodology from an ethnographic point of view. The data were collected through the application of semi-structured interviews to some fish farmers and then a data analysis was carried out. The results reveal that fish farmers design, establish measures for the construction of wells and pools that depend on soil quality, as well as calculations, counts, estimates, among other mathematical processes to establish the amount of nutrients, fish seed per cubic meter of water, etc. In addition, the characteristics of fish nutrition for maintenance, growth, reproductive performance, good flesh quality, health and weight given in pounds and kilograms in relation to the type and size of fish are mentioned. We consider that, the findings of this study contribute to the teaching and learning of school mathematics by valuing the sociocultural context of children, youth and adults, especially so that they recognize the arithmetic operations used by fish farmers and other connections between the shapes of wells and pools to work measurements such as area, volume, etc.