PROCEEDINGS OF THE 15TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON RESEARCH IN UNDERGRADUATE MATHEMATICS EDUCATION (Vol 2)
2012
Portland, Oregon
Student Concept Images of Function and Linear Transformation
Page: 2-320
As part of a larger study of student understanding of concepts in linear algebra, we interviewed 10 university linear algebra students as to their conceptions of functions from high school algebra and linear transformation from their study of linear algebra. Analysis of these results led to a classification of student responses into properties, computations and a series of five interrelated metaphors. We see this classification as providing richness and nuance to existing literature on students’ conceptions of function. In addition, we are finding these categories helpful in describing the compatibilities and distinctions in student understanding of function and linear transformation.