Student's reasoning in the process of mathematical proofs

This study focuses on students' way of reasoning about a proof in mathematics. The experiences of teaching students in the beginning of their studies at universities show that students have an obstacle in using deductive methods. The students' activity was designed specifically to investigate their deductive ability and to see if they can develop their way of reasoning. The group activities and interviews follow the students from the beginning where they, with great enthusiasm, begin colouring maps as a first sketch to a complete proof. The well-known statement to prove is chosen from a field in mathematics that the students are unfamiliar with, namely graph theory. More precisely it concerns the number of possible colourings of maps. Some university students have problems with constructing proofs, but in many cases the teacher can help them to reach a deductive reasoning.