PROCEEDINGS OF THE 16TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON RESEARCH IN UNDERGRADUATE MATHEMATICS EDUCATION (Vol 1)
2013
Denver, Colorado
Students’ Knowledge Resources About the Temporal Order of Delta and Epsilon
Page: 1-40
The formal definition of a limit, or the epsilon delta definition is a critical topic in calculus for mathematics majors’ development and the first chance for students to engage with formal mathematics. Research has documented that the formal definition is a roadblock for most students but has de-emphasized the productive role of their prior knowledge and sense making processes. This study investigates the range of knowledge resources included in calculus students’ prior knowledge about the relationship between 𝛿 and 𝜀 within the definition. diSessa’s Knowledge in Pieces provides a framework to explore in detail the structure of students’ prior knowledge and their role in learning the topic.