PROCEEDINGS OF THE 19TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON RESEARCH IN UNDERGRADUATE MATHEMATICS EDUCATION
2016
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Calculus students’ understanding of the vertex of the quadratic function in relation to the concept ofderivative
Page: 641
The purpose of this study was to gain insight into thirty Calculus I students’ understanding of the relationship between the concept of vertex of a quadratic function and the concept of the derivative. APOS (action-process-object-schema) theory (Asiala et al., 1996) was used in analysis on student written work, think-aloud, and follow up group interviews. Students’ personal meanings of the vertex, including misconceptions, were explored, and how students relate the vertex to the understanding of the derivative. Results give evidence of students’ lack of connection between different problem types which use the derivative to find the vertex. Implications and suggestions for teaching are made based on the results. Future research is suggested as a continuation to improve student understanding of the vertex of quadratic functions and the derivative.