they apply; and to enter the task is through specific examples or general arguments. Access
refers to the students’ opportunity to find an entry point to the task and student
opportunity for sustained exploration of relevant mathematical ideas. Spontaneity refers to
student-focused inquiry triggered by curiosity. Pursuit refers to student activity related to
resolving their self-focused questions. A high degree of creativity exists where students
spontaneously formulate highly relevant questions and assemble and integrate mathematical
ideas from mathematical topics—which until now appeared to be unconnected—for the
purpose of resolving these questions using elegant solution pathways. Execution refers to
the quality of the creativity and is relative to (a) the prior mathematical background of the
student; (b) the recentness of exposure to the mathematical ideas upon which they drew;
(c) the students’ prior knowledge of connections between the mathematical ideas they
integrated, and (d) the elegance of the argument produced.