PROCEEDINGS OF THE 15TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON RESEARCH IN UNDERGRADUATE MATHEMATICS EDUCATION (Vol 2)
2012
Portland, Oregon
Dynamic Geometric Representation Of Eigenvectors
Page: 2-53
This study summarizes the five participants’ exploration of dynamic representations of an eigenvector of a 2×2 matrix associated with a negative eigenvalue. I drew on the complementary use of the different theoretical constructs to study the role of an instrument of semiotic mediation in learners’ developmental process of mathematical understanding. My data analysis reveals that the participants’ use of the dragging tool (which became an instrument of semiotic mediation) enabled them to understand properties of eigenvectors and eigenvalues. It also suggests an integration of analysis of participants’ gesture and speech to provide an insight of the participant’s modes of thinking.