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Mathematical Literacy, Mathematical Modeling, and Realistic Mathematics Problems

and make the well-founded judgments and decisions needed by con-
structive, engaged and reflective 21st Century citizens.

From this definition it is possible to understand that mathematical literacy
is defined as an individual’s ability to recognize and understand the role that
mathematics plays in the world, to make well-founded decisions, and to use
and engage with mathematics in ways that meet the needs of an individual’s
life as a constructive and reflective citizen (Repež et al., 2008). Based on the
definition of mathematical literacy is it also possible to understand that it
promotes and supports sustainable development skills (Nkuturum, 2023).

Mathematical Knowledge and Mathematical Literacy
A mathematically literate person must know some mathematics, but liter-
acy is not entirely dependent on mathematical knowledge (De Lange, 2003).
Someone who knows mathematics merely as a set of algorithms to mem-
orize is certainly not mathematically literate (cf. Lin & Tai, 2015). Understand-
ingthat allowstheapplication ofmathematicalideasto similarexamplesand
newsituationsiscrucial(DeLange,2003).Mathematicalliteracyisnotdirectly
proportional to the ‘amount’ of mathematics one knows but rather to how
one can apply mathematics in everyday life (cf. OECD, 2023).
Mathematical literacy refers to the ability to use mathematical arguments
in life situations, which are inherently diverse and usually more complex than
most standard school examples or problems (OECD, 2023). Although mathe-
matics instruction involves tools that could be useful for increasing mathe-
matical literacy, we do not generally develop the appropriate skills and ‘flex-
ibility.’ Students may be able to apply their mathematical knowledge in a
mathematical context but are more or less adept at using this knowledge
in everyday life.

Factors in Developing Mathematical Literacy
It is often emphasized that mathematics instruction should develop the fol-
lowing aspects of learning (Maslihah et al., 2020):

– investigation;
–problem-solving;
– creative thinking;
– data processing;
– logical reasoning;
–evaluation of results.

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