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ERIC Number: EJ995531
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-Mar
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0732-3123
EISSN: N/A
Students' Understanding of Limiting Behavior at a Point for Functions from [Set of Real Numbers][superscript 2] to [Set of Real Numbers]
Mamona-Downs, Joanna K.; Megalou, Foteini J.
Journal of Mathematical Behavior, v32 n1 p53-68 Mar 2013
The aim of this paper is to examine students' understanding of the limiting behavior of a function from [set of real numbers][superscript 2] to [set of real numbers] at a point "P." This understanding depends on which definition is used for a limit. Several definitions are considered; two of these concern the notion of a neighborhood of "P", while another two are directed at the consistency of limits obtained by restricting the function to lines or half-lines passing through "P". A case study is presented involving four university students studying Mathematics. Comments are made about their abilities in working with each definition, associated images that were evoked, and how they related one definition to another (including the issue of logical equivalence). The influence of the students' previous experience in handling limits for real functions of one variable is also discussed. (Contains 5 figures.)
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A