How students apply linear algebra to quantum mechanics

Hillebrand-Viljoen, Charlotte; Wheaton, Spencer

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How students apply linear algebra to quantum mechanics

written by Charlotte Hillebrand-Viljoen and Spencer Wheaton

This paper describes a framework for how students apply linear algebra to quantum mechanics based on a survey of 61 students at various levels. The framework divides mathematics into calculational and value-assigning parts in contrast to storytelling parts, which are concerned with the relationships between objects. We apply this to student understanding in the context of linear algebra and quantum mechanics, and give some implications for instruction.

Physics Education Research Conference 2018
Part of the PER Conference series
Washington, DC: August 1-2, 2018

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Last Modified: December 31, 2018

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Education Foundations - Learning Theory Mathematical Tools - Linear Algebra and Tensors Quantum Physics - Foundations and Measurements = Wave Functions	- Upper Undergraduate	- Reference Material = Research study

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Mirror:: https://doi.org/10.1119/perc.2018…
Access Rights:: Free access
License:: This material is released under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the published article's author(s), title, proceedings citation, and DOI.
Rights Holder:: American Association of Physics Teachers
DOI:: 10.1119/perc.2018.pr.Hillebrand-Viljoen
Keyword:: PERC 2018
Record Creator:: Metadata instance created December 31, 2018 by Lyle Barbato
Record Updated:: December 31, 2018 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update when Cataloged:: December 31, 2018
Other Collections:: The PER-Central

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<a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=14797">Hillebrand-Viljoen, Charlotte, and Spencer Wheaton. "How students apply linear algebra to quantum mechanics." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2018, Washington, DC, August 1-2, 2018.</a>

AIP Format

C. Hillebrand-Viljoen and S. Wheaton, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2018, Washington, DC, 2018, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14797&DocID=4944).

AJP/PRST-PER

C. Hillebrand-Viljoen and S. Wheaton, How students apply linear algebra to quantum mechanics, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2018, Washington, DC, 2018, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14797&DocID=4944>.

APA Format

Hillebrand-Viljoen, C., & Wheaton, S. (2018, August 1-2). How students apply linear algebra to quantum mechanics. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2018, Washington, DC. Retrieved May 3, 2025, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14797&DocID=4944

Chicago Format

Hillebrand-Viljoen, Charlotte, and Spencer Wheaton. "How students apply linear algebra to quantum mechanics." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2018, Washington, DC, August 1-2, 2018. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14797&DocID=4944 (accessed 3 May 2025).

MLA Format

Hillebrand-Viljoen, Charlotte, and Spencer Wheaton. "How students apply linear algebra to quantum mechanics." Physics Education Research Conference 2018. Washington, DC: 2018. of PER Conference. 3 May 2025 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14797&DocID=4944>.

BibTeX Export Format

@inproceedings{ Author = "Charlotte Hillebrand-Viljoen and Spencer Wheaton", Title = {How students apply linear algebra to quantum mechanics}, BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2018}, Address = {Washington, DC}, Series = {PER Conference}, Month = {August 1-2}, Year = {2018} }

Refer Export Format

%A Charlotte Hillebrand-Viljoen %A Spencer Wheaton %T How students apply linear algebra to quantum mechanics %S PER Conference %D August 1-2 2018 %C Washington, DC %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14797&DocID=4944 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2018 %O August 1-2 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Conference Proceedings %A Hillebrand-Viljoen, Charlotte %A Wheaton, Spencer %D August 1-2 2018 %T How students apply linear algebra to quantum mechanics %B Physics Education Research Conference 2018 %C Washington, DC %S PER Conference %8 August 1-2 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14797&DocID=4944

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