This paper introduces the basic knowledge of integral factors of first-order ordinary differential equations and Lie symmetry analysis. It then discusses the principle of constructing an integral factor of the first-order ordinary differential equation by the Lie symmetric method. Finally, it presents some examples to show the process of…

Four variations of the Koch curve are presented. In each case, the similarity dimension, area bounded by the fractal and its initiator, and volume of revolution about the initiator are calculated. A range of classroom exercises are proved to allow students to investigate the fractals further.

Contribution: This article presents a new look at teaching the Laplace transform for engineering students by emphasizing the obsolescence of the current method of finding the inverse Laplace transform when solving differential equations, and by recognizing the important role of a computer-assisted environment in helping the students understand the…

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…

In application-oriented mathematics, particularly in the context of nonlinear system analysis, phase plane analysis through SageMath offers a visual display of the qualitative behaviour of solutions to differential equations without inundating students with cumbersome calculations of the plane-phase. A variety of examples is usually given to…

Quadratic functions are explained in the three equivalent formats: Standard (or Expanded), Vertex and Factorised. However, cubic functions are represented only in the two equivalent formats: Standard (or Expanded) and Factorised. In this article, the author shows how cubic functions can be expressed in three equivalent formats like quadratic…

In this paper, we introduce novel instructional approaches to engage students in using modelling with data to motivate and teach differential equations. Specifically, we introduce a pedagogical framework that will execute instructional modules to teach different solution techniques for differential equations through repositories and notebook…

This article makes a case for introducing moving averages into introductory statistics courses and contemporary modeling/data-based courses in college algebra and precalculus. The authors examine a variety of aspects of moving averages and draw parallels between them and similar topics in calculus, differential equations, and linear algebra. The…

Algebra has been identified as a gatekeeper to careers in STEM, but little research exists on how algebra appears for practitioners in the workplace. Surveys and interviews were conducted with 77 STEM practitioners from a variety of fields, examining how they reported using algebraic functions in their work. Survey and interview reports suggest…

This article presents a task providing college students opportunities to build on their high school knowledge of trigonometry to explore parametric equations and inverse trigonometric relationships within a contextual learning ladder problem.

We review the history and previous literature on radical equations and present the rigorous solution theory for radical equations of depth 2, continuing a previous study of radical equations of depth 1. Radical equations of depth 2 are equations where the unknown variable appears under at least one square root and where two steps are needed to…

This study analysed first-year preservice teachers' understanding of trigonometric equations at a South African university in the Eastern Cape province. We employed the Action-Process-Object-Schema (APOS) framework to analyse the mental constructions made by preservice teachers in solving trigonometric equations. A qualitative case study design…

Recently, Christopher C. Tisdell questions some claims and results that appear in our article [Rivera-Figueroa A, Rivera-Rebolledo JM. A new method to solve the second-order linear difference equations with constant coefficients. Int J Math Educ Sci Technol. 2016;47(4):636-649.] regarding the novelty and simplicity of a method to solve…

This study was performed to determine preservice elementary mathematics teachers' solution performance of systems of linear equations using geometric representation, algebraic representation and transition from geometric representation to the algebraic representation and the predictive role of preservice elementary mathematics teachers'…

Scientific ideas are often expressed as mathematical equations. Understanding the ideas contained within these equations requires making sense of both the embedded mathematics knowledge and scientific knowledge. Students who can engage in this type of blended sensemaking are more successful at solving novel or more complex problems with these…