Browsing by Author "Webb, J H"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    An analysis of gender related differences in performance and attitudes of participants in the 1997 UCT Mathematics competition
    (1998) Tucker, Diane Jean; Webb, J H
    In this study, possible gender differences in and attitudes towards mathematics will be investigated. As a sample, the candidates taking part in the individual competition in the University of Cape Town Mathematics Competition will be used. This sample has been chosen since it appears that even though the gender related differences in performance that are reported are often very small, the differences are often more apparent at the upper end of the ability scale. Since the University of Cape Town Mathematics Competition attracts entries from candidates of wide ranging ability, a number of investigations can be done. The investigations that will be carried out. included statistical analyses of a number of different categories in mathematics (algebra, arithmetic, geometry and problem solving), various sub-categories and special categories; questions that have been repeated in more than one question paper will also be investigated for any patterns in performance (in terms of maturity in mathematics). Since learners engaging in mathematical activities (including participating in mathematics competitions) are affected by external and internal influences on their perception and attitudes towards mathematics, it was felt that an investigation into the relationship between performance in mathematics and attitudes towards mathematics was important. Gender related differences in attitudes towards mathematics will also be investigated. The results of this study will show that, where statistically significant differences in performance exist, these differences are in fact very small. The results of the attitudes questionnaire demonstrate that there is a statistically significant correlation between attitudes and performance in mathematics and that there exists small, yet statistically significant differences in attitudes towards mathematics.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Aspects of compactness in convex spaces
    (1969) Camilleri, Joyce; Webb, J H
    This thesis has its origin in a ten minute paper presented at the British Mathematical Colloquium in London in 1966. At this reading, a certain class of spaces was introduced by Mr. D. H. Fremlin, who furthermore, cited interesting compactness properties pertaining to these spaces. This work shall be concerned, foremostly, with the provision of proofs for the statements made by Mr. D. H. Fremlin in 1966, and with demonstrations of how these purely topological results have applications to linear topological spaces, with the emphasis placed on those which are locally convex. Our investigations of the 'Fremlin' spaces, and the search for known spaces which satisfy the 'Fremlin' conditions has led to a concentration on the separable and Frechet spaces. These are discussed in chapter 11. On reading this thesis, it will become apparent that an underlying theme is that of weak compactness. We have therefore taken the liberty, of concluding with a chapter which gives various characterisations of this. Each chapter will introduce its own subject matter. New results and different proofs of existing theorems have been obtained.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    The strict typology : theory, generalizations and applications
    (1972) Diss, Gordon Fletcher; Webb, J H
    The strict topology β was first defined on the space of bounded complex-valued continuous functions Cb(X), on a locally compact Hausdorff space X, by Buck. It was found to have many applications in Approximation Theory, spectral synthesis, spaces of bounded holomorphic functions and multipliers of Banach Algebras.