We view the (real) Laplace transform through the lens of linear algebra as a continuous analogue of the power series by a negative exponential transformation that switches the basis of power functions to the basis of exponential functions. This approach immediately points to how the complex Laplace transform is a generalisation of the Fourier…

Using the sawtooth map as the basis of a coupled map lattice enables simple analytic results to be obtained for the global Lyapunov spectra of a number of standard lattice networks. The results presented can be used to enrich a course on chaos or dynamical systems by providing tractable examples of higher dimensional maps and links to a number of…

This study investigates when and how university students in first-semester introductory calculus interpret multiple representations of the same function. Specifically, it focuses on three tasks. The first task has students give their definitions of 'function sameness', the results of which suggests that many students understand a function as being…

QR decomposition is widely used for solving the least squares problem. However, existing materials about it may be too abstract for non-mathematicians, especially STEM students, and/or require serious background in linear algebra. The paper describes theoretical background and examples of GNU Octave compatible MATLAB scripts that give relatively…

For integrals consisting of rational functions of sine and cosine a set of little known rules known as the Bioche rules are considered. The rules, which consist of testing the differential form of the integral for invariance under one of three simple substitutions x [right arrow] -- x, [pi] -- x, and [pi] + x, allow one to decide which of the…

All differential equations students have encountered eigenvectors and eigenvalues in their study of systems of linear differential equations. The eigenvectors and phase plane solutions are displayed in a Cartesian plane, yet a geometric understanding can be enhanced, and is arguably better, if the system is represented in polar coordinates. A…

Differential equations are an important mathematical concept used to model processes in many disciplines. However, the literature shows that students experience many difficulties when studying this topic. We investigate the effect of using context while teaching differential equations on engineering students' ability to construct and interpret…

While research on the opportunity to learn about mathematics concepts provided by textbooks at the secondary level is well documented, there is still a paucity of similar research at the undergraduate level. Contributing towards addressing this knowledge gap, the present study examined opportunities to engage in quantitative and covariational…

This article explores the conceptual challenges that engineering students encounter with double integrals in a vector calculus course. Drawing on previous literature and utilising APOS (Activity- Process- Objects- Schema) as a theoretical framework, this study investigates the difficulties that students face in understanding and applying double…

The purpose of this study was to investigate university students' conceptions of the definite integral in the process of finding the volume of a solid of revolution. The participants were four students enrolled in a university calculus course in Turkey. Data were obtained by task-based interviews, in which the participants had to work on a problem…

This study examined college calculus instructors' preferences in solving two calculus tasks to examine college calculus instructors' use of important cognitive roots in understanding derivatives of function. Our results showed that only one instructor consistently uses cognitive roots while other instructors either focus on algebraic methods or…

We present a complete, soup to nuts, modeling activity of a falling column of water. Many colleagues have used this material in teaching applications of first order separable differential equations. We describe how the material can be presented with students collecting their own data from online videos. One can then either offer the differential…

We investigated understanding of the linear independence concept based on the type and nature of connections displayed in seven non-mathematics majors' interview responses to a set of open-ended questions. Through a qualitative analysis, we identified six categories of frequently displayed connections. There were also recognizable differences in…

In the multivariable calculus course, a standard application of triple integration is to find volumes of bounded regions in R[superscript 3]. In this article, we consider the problem of computing volumes, by way of examples, of regions bounded by planes and quadric surfaces. For illustration, we present the solution to two basic but non-standard…

The systematic design and analysis of tasks which can be implemented in first-year university courses and point to advanced inner- and extra-mathematically rich issues and their rationales is an open problem in the didactics of mathematics in higher education. Potentials of such tasks can be seen with regard to learning processes in the first year…