PROCEEDINGS OF THE 16TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON RESEARCH IN UNDERGRADUATE MATHEMATICS EDUCATION (Vol 1)
2013
Denver, Colorado
Difficulties in Using Variables - A Tertiary Transition Study
Page: 1-80
In this paper we describe the results obtained from a diagnostic instrument that was applied to 25 students of the Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México (UACM) at the beginning of an Algebra and Analytic Geometry course. The diagnostic instrument was the first part of the study we currently perform to analyze the possible impact that failing to understand the uses of variables may have in understanding systems of linear equations. A brief description of the main research project is presented to frame the results of the diagnostic instrument into context.