Simple rule, hidden meaning: the scalar product in engineering mathematics
| dc.contributor.author | Craig, Tracy S | |
| dc.contributor.author | Cloete, Trevor J | |
| dc.date | 2015-11 | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2017-09-13T10:34:47Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2017-09-13T10:34:47Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2017-09-13 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Engineering is a highly mathematical field of study with different university courses requiring proficiency at different types of mathematics. Engineering dynamics requires the skilful use of vectors in various ways and proficiency at vector arithmetic, algebra and geometry is of vital importance to incoming students. This paper reports on findings from the administering of a vector proficiency assessment instrument across two semesters of a dynamics course. Findings suggest that problems requiring use of the scalar product embedded within a context are of the highest difficulty level. We argue that the geometric role of the scalar product is weakly understood by the majority of students, leading to poor performance at any problem requiring more than a basic calculation. We suggest that lecturers of engineering mathematics foreground the geometric role and that lecturers of engineering courses be aware of the level of challenge manifest in these problems. | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.apacitation | Craig, T. S., & Cloete, T. J. (2017). <i>Simple rule, hidden meaning: the scalar product in engineering mathematics</i>. Port Elizabeth, Elephant Delta. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25149 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.chicagocitation | Craig, Tracy S, and Trevor J Cloete. "Simple rule, hidden meaning: the scalar product in engineering mathematics." 2015-11, Port Elizabeth. Elephant Delta. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25149. | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.citation | Craig, T.S., Cloete, T.J. (2015). Simple rule, hidden meaning: the scalar product in engineering mathematics. Proceedings of the Tenth Southern Hemisphere Conference on the Teaching and Learning of Undergraduate Mathematics and Statistics (Elephant Delta), Port Elizabeth, 22-27 November 2015,18-42. | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.ris | TY - Conference Paper AU - Craig, Tracy S AU - Cloete, Trevor J AB - Engineering is a highly mathematical field of study with different university courses requiring proficiency at different types of mathematics. Engineering dynamics requires the skilful use of vectors in various ways and proficiency at vector arithmetic, algebra and geometry is of vital importance to incoming students. This paper reports on findings from the administering of a vector proficiency assessment instrument across two semesters of a dynamics course. Findings suggest that problems requiring use of the scalar product embedded within a context are of the highest difficulty level. We argue that the geometric role of the scalar product is weakly understood by the majority of students, leading to poor performance at any problem requiring more than a basic calculation. We suggest that lecturers of engineering mathematics foreground the geometric role and that lecturers of engineering courses be aware of the level of challenge manifest in these problems. CY - Port Elizabeth DA - 2017-09-13 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PP - Port Elizabeth PY - 2017 T1 - Simple rule, hidden meaning: the scalar product in engineering mathematics TI - Simple rule, hidden meaning: the scalar product in engineering mathematics UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25149 ER - | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25149 | |
| dc.identifier.vancouvercitation | Craig TS, Cloete TJ, Simple rule, hidden meaning: the scalar product in engineering mathematics. ; 2015-11; Port Elizabeth. Elephant Delta; 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25149 . | en_ZA |
| dc.language | eng | en_ZA |
| dc.publisher | Elephant Delta | en_ZA |
| dc.publisher.institution | University of Cape Town | |
| dc.publisher.location | Port Elizabeth | en_ZA |
| dc.relation.ispartofseries | the Tenth Southern Hemisphere Conference on the Teaching and Learning of Undergraduate Mathematics and Statistics (Elephant Delta) | en_ZA |
| dc.subject.other | engineering dynamics | |
| dc.subject.other | vectors | |
| dc.subject.other | Rasch analysis | |
| dc.subject.other | scalar product | |
| dc.title | Simple rule, hidden meaning: the scalar product in engineering mathematics | en_ZA |
| dc.type | Conference Paper | en_ZA |
| uct.type.filetype | Text | |
| uct.type.filetype | Image | |
| uct.type.publication | Research | en_ZA |
| uct.type.resource | Conference paper | en_ZA |