PROCEEDINGS OF THE 18TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON RESEARCH IN UNDERGRADUATE MATHEMATICS EDUCATION
2015
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Unifying concepts in the introductory linear algebra course
Page: 868
The introductory linear algebra course provides unique challenges to many undergraduate students. The abstract nature of the course and immense amount of vocabulary offers a stark contrast to the procedural mathematics encountered in calculus and high school mathematics courses (Carlson, 1993; Dorier & Sierpinska, 2001). Many concepts in linear algebra are inherently connected. These connections can be made explicit by the use of a unifying and generalizing concept, defined by Dorier (1995). Examples of a unifying concept include the Invertible Matrix Theorem as presented by Lay (1994). In my study, I considered two potential unifying concepts, pivots and solution sets of matrix equations and asked how these concepts influenced student understanding of linear algebra.