ERIC Number: EJ930102
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1947-7503
EISSN: N/A
Relationship between Students' Understanding of Functions in Cartesian and Polar Coordinate Systems
Montiel, Mariana; Vidakovic, Draga; Kabael, Tangul
Investigations in Mathematics Learning, v1 n2 p52-70 Win 2008-2009
The present study was implemented as a prelude to a study on the generalization of the single variable function concept to multivariate calculus. In the present study we analyze students' mental processes and adjustments, as they are being exposed to single variable calculus with polar coordinates. The results show that there appears to be a relation between students' definition of function and their success (or lack of it) in transferring this definition to the polar representation. This is seen, in particular, with the transference of misconceptions.
Descriptors: Multivariate Analysis, Calculus, Misconceptions, Mathematical Concepts, Correlation, Mathematics, Mathematics Instruction, Graphs
Research Council on Mathematics Learning. Web site: http://www.unlv.edu/RCML
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A