Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
360920 The Journal of Mathematical Behavior 2007 17 Pages PDF
Abstract

Students incorporate and use the implicit and explicit parameter time to support their mathematical reasoning and deepen their understandings as they participate in a differential equations class during instruction on solutions to systems of differential equations. Therefore, dynamic reasoning is defined as developing and using conceptualizations about time as a parameter that implicitly or explicitly coordinates with other quantities to understand and solve problems. Students participate in the following types of mathematical activity related to dynamic reasoning: making time an explicit quantity, using the metaphor of time as “unidimensional space”, using time to reason both quantitatively and qualitatively, using three-dimensional visualization of time related functions, fusing context and representation of time related functions, and using the fictive motion metaphor for function. The purpose of this article is to present a characterization of dynamic reasoning and promote more explicit attention to this type of reasoning by teachers in K-16 mathematics in order to improve student understanding in time related areas of mathematics.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Mathematics Applied Mathematics
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