OBMEP e BNCC: integração de questões sobre números racionais às habilidades do 6º e 7º anos do Ensino Fundamental

This study aims to investigate the integration of questions from the Brazilian Public School Math Olympiad (OBMEP) into the teaching of rational numbers—both fractions and decimals—as a means to develop the competencies and skills required of 6th and 7th grade students in the final years of Middle School, in accordance with the parameters set by Brazil’s National Common Curricular Base (BNCC). The research also seeks to highlight the relevance of rational numbers in the context of Olympiad assessments, contribute to discussions on mathematics teaching methodologies for intermediate levels of basic education, and suggest approaches for adopting the Problem Solving trend in classroom practices. A bibliographic investigation was conducted to promote greater familiarity with the recently approved curriculum document and to connect the defined competencies with the reasoning and problem-solving strategies found in Olympiad questions. A documentary analysis of OBMEP questions administered between 2018 (the year following of BNCC’s approval) and 2024 (the most recent edition) enabled the selection of problems that explicitly reference or require prior knowledge of rational numbers (both fractions and decimals). This included a qualitative analysis of the characteristics and mathematical understanding involved in their resolution, as well as a quantitative analysis comparing the number of selected items to the total analyzed. By emphasizing the connections between OBMEP questions and BNCC competencies, this study proposes possible strategies for applying these activities based on the Problem Solving teaching trend and highlights the interrelation among various thematic units of the core curriculum through the content of rational numbers.