Student Difficulties with units in differential equations in modelling contexts


Autoria(s): Rowland, David R.
Contribuinte(s)

Martin C. Harrison

Data(s)

15/07/2006

Resumo

First-year undergraduate engineering students' understanding of the units of factors and terms in first-order ordinary differential equations used in modelling contexts was investigated using diagnostic quiz questions. Few students appeared to realize that the units of each term in such equations must be the same, or if they did, nevertheless failed to apply that knowledge when needed. In addition, few students were able to determine the units of a proportionality factor in a simple equation. These results indicate that lecturers of modelling courses cannot take this foundational knowledge for granted and should explicitly include it in instruction.

Identificador

http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:83312

Idioma(s)

eng

Publicador

Taylor & francis Ltd

Palavras-Chave #C1 #0103 Numerical and Computational Mathematics
Tipo

Journal Article