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Geometrical representations in the learning of two-variable functions

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Abstract

This study is part of a project concerned with the analysis of how students work with two-variable functions. This is of fundamental importance given the role of multivariable functions in mathematics and its applications. The portion of the project we report here concentrates on investigating the relationship between students’ notion of subsets of Cartesian three-dimensional space and the understanding of graphs of two-variable functions. APOS theory and Duval’s theory of semiotic representations are used as theoretical framework. Nine students, who had taken a multivariable calculus course, were interviewed. Results show that students’ understanding can be related to the structure of their schema for R3 and to their flexibility in the use of different representations.

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Acknowledgements

This project was partially supported by Asociación Mexicana de Cultura AC.

We are thankful to Ed Dubinsky for his comments and suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Matemática, Universidad de Puerto Rico en Mayagüez, Mayagüez, 00680, Puerto Rico

    Rafael Martínez-Planell

  2. Depto. de Matemáticas, Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México, Río Hondo #1, Tizapán, San Angel, México DF, 01000, México

    Maria Trigueros

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  1. Maria Trigueros
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  2. Rafael Martínez-Planell
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Correspondence to Maria Trigueros.

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Trigueros, M., Martínez-Planell, R. Geometrical representations in the learning of two-variable functions. Educ Stud Math 73, 3–19 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-009-9201-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-009-9201-5

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