Two heuristic and three rigorous arguments are given for the fact that functions of the form Ce[kx], with C an arbitrary constant, are the only solutions of the equation dy/dx=ky where k is constant. Various of the proofs in this self-contained note could find classroom use in a first-year calculus course, an introductory course on differential…

For various reasons there has been a recent trend in college and high school calculus courses to de-emphasize teaching the Partial Fraction Decomposition (PFD) as an integration technique. This is regrettable because the Partial Fraction Decomposition is considerably more than an integration technique. It is, in fact, a general purpose tool which…

This article presents a study in which applications were integrated in the Multivariable Calculus course at the Technion in the framework of supplementary tutorials. The purpose of the study was to test the opportunity of extending the conventional curriculum by optional applied problem-solving activities and get initial evidence on the possible…

Many popular mathematical software products including Maple, Mathematica, Derive, Mathcad, Matlab, and some of the TI calculators produce incorrect graphs because they use complex arithmetic instead of "real" arithmetic. This article expounds on this issue, provides possible remedies for instructors to share with their students, and demonstrates…

Based on a sequence of number pairs, a recent paper (Mauch, E. and Shi, Y., 2005, Using a sequence of number pairs as an example in teaching mathematics, "Mathematics and Computer Education," 39(3), 198-205) presented some interesting examples that can be used in teaching high school and college mathematics classes such as algebra, geometry,…

Presents examples of using a tic-tac-toe format to practice finding the slope and identifying parallel and perpendicular lines from various equation formats. Reports the successful use of this format as a review in both precalculus and calculus classes before students work with applications of analytic geometry. (JRH)

The Structured Query Language (SQL) forms a substantial component of introductory database courses and is supported by almost every commercial database product. One disadvantage of SQL is that it does not provide a universal quantification construct. Queries that have twisted universal and existential quantifiers can be stunning for students,…

A program on calculus is conducted, which helps students learn about inherent differentiation through a study of mathematical functions, while simultaneously reinforcing their understanding of functional concepts. This process develops their mathematical experience in the field of calculus and in other advanced quantitative programs.

Approaches to the determination of the error in numerical quadrature rules are discussed and compared. This article considers the problem of the determination of errors in numerical quadrature rules, taking Simpson's rule as the principal example. It suggests an approach based on truncation error analysis of numerical schemes for differential…

In this short note, a mathematical proposition on a functional equation for f(xy)=xf(y) + yf(x)for x,y [does not equal] 0, which is encountered in calculus, is generalized step by step. These steps involve continuity, differentiability, a functional equation, an ordinary differential linear equation of the first order, and relationships between…

The primary use of the inverse secant in calculus is as an antiderivative. In this article, the author advocates taking advantage of properties of the hyperbolic functions instead.

The author of this paper submits that a mathematics student needs to learn to conjecture and prove or disprove said conjecture. Ergo, the purpose of the paper is to submit the thesis that learning requires doing; only through inquiry is learning achieved, and hence this paper proposes a programme of use of a modified Moore method in a Bridge to…

When the character Yoda first appeared on the silver screen, his movements were due to the efforts of famed muppeteer Frank Oz. In "Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones," Yoda returned to the movies but this time the character was not a puppet but a digital image within a computer. This paper discusses the role, or, more aptly, the force, of…