Different views – some Swedish mathematics students’ concept images of the function concept

Olov Viirman; Iiris Attorps; Timo Tossavainen

doi:10.7146/nomad.v15i4.148286

Authors

Olov Viirman
Iiris Attorps
Timo Tossavainen

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7146/nomad.v15i4.148286

Abstract

This study analyses what kind of concept images a group of engineering and teacher students have of the function concept, and how these concept images are related to the historical development of this concept. The study was conducted using questionnaires, and 34 students at a Swedish university participated. It is found that the students primarily rely on operational conceptions of the function concept, with only a minority of students possessing structural conceptions. The definitions given by the students mostly resemble an 18th or 19th century view of functions. The study also indicates that the character of the definitions given in the textbooks used by the students affect their concept images.

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