Meaning of Central Limit Theorem in University Statistics and Probability Textbooks

Abstract

In this paper we analyse the presentation of the central limit theorem in a sample of statistics textbooks for engineers. Our work is based on a theoretical model on the meaning of mathematical objects. The more employed textbooks in Chile present a great wealth of language, tools for solving problems, asso-ciated representations, problems fields and arguments that confer a great complexity and allow several quite different presentations for the students. As a consequence of such an analysis we infer some criteria for the future designing of teaching proposals, like the implementation of different formulations and representations of the sum of random variables according to its nature and in an increasing order of complexity.