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Updated: Oct 9, 2025

Multimedia Battery for Assessment of Cognitive and Basic Skills in Mathematics BM-PROMA
Published on: August 28, 2021
What mathematical competencies does a citizen need to interpret Mexico's official information about the COVID-19
Mario Sánchez Aguilar1, Apolo Castaneda1
1Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CICATA Legaria, Programa de Matemática Educativa, Calzada Legaria No. 694, Col. Irrigación, C.P., 11500 Mexico City, Alcaldía Miguel Hidalgo Mexico.
Abstract:
We report a study on mathematical literacy with special emphasis on health literacy. In particular, we identify and characterize the mathematical competencies that a citizen needs to interpret the official information on the COVID-19 pandemic as experienced in Mexico. To achieve this, we analyze the daily reports on the pandemic issued by the Mexican Ministry of Health, using the framework of mathematical competencies as a theoretical lens. Our results show that there are five necessary competencies to interpret the official information: mathematical communication, mathematical representation, mathematical symbols and formalism, mathematical modeling, and mathematical reasoning competency. After characterizing and illustrating these competencies, we close the paper with a reflection on the importance of mathematical literacy in a pandemic world.
Supplementary Information:
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10649-021-10082-9.
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