The theoretical model of a conceptual profile was developed by Eduardo Mortimer and has been widely used in science education. According to this model, polysemic concepts permitting the establishment of conceptual profiles, which are composed of different zones, that correspond to different ways of seeing, of representing and of signifying the world. Nevertheless, the research of Alessandro Ribeiro identified different meanings of the concept of equation. The set of these meanings was named by Multimeanings of Equation. Taking on the premise that the concept of equation is polysemous, this study aimed at identifying and categorizing some zones of a conceptual profile of equation. By using of a dialogical play between data from epistemological and ontological studies, zones of a conceptual profile of equation are presented: pragmatic, geometric, structural, procedural and applicational. Lastly, developments of the research and some implications of the conceptual profile approach to teaching and learning of mathematics are pointed out.
Meaning; Equation; Conceptual profile; Mathematics teaching; Learning; Educational algebra
