Understanding Students' Poor Performance on Mathematical Problem Solving in Physics

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written by Jonathan Tumaniro and Edward F. Redish

This article helps explain why many introductory, algebra-based physics students perform poorly on mathematical problem solving tasks in physics. Many physics faculty assume that the lack of mathematical skills is the causing this problem. However, this research presents evidence suggesting that the major source of the students' errors is their failure to apply the mathematical knowledge they have or to interpret that knowledge in a physical context. Additionally, the authors provide an instructional strategy that can help students employ the mathematical knowledge they already possess.

Physics Education Research Conference 2003
Part of the PER Conference series
Madison, WI: August 6-7, 2003
Volume 720, Pages 113-116

download 119kb .pdf
Published: September 9, 2004

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Education Foundations - Problem Solving - Student Characteristics = Ability Other Sciences - Mathematics	- Lower Undergraduate	- Instructional Material = Instructor Guide/Manual - Reference Material = Research study

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Mirror:: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1807267
Mirror:: http://www.physics.umd.edu/perg/p…
Access Rights:: Limited free access; A free preprint is available. The published article may be purchased or accessed with a subscription.
Restriction:: © 2003 American Institute of Physics
DOI:: 10.1063/1.1807267
ISBN Number:: 0-7354-0200-0
PACSs:: 01.40.Fk; 01.40.Gm
Keywords:: PERC 2003, math students, problem solving, student assessment, student comprehension
Record Creator:: Metadata instance created July 14, 2005 by Lyle Barbato
Record Updated:: April 11, 2024 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update when Cataloged:: September 9, 2004
Other Collections:: The PER-Central

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Record Link

<a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=2984">Tumaniro, Jonathan, and Edward F. Redish. "Understanding Students' Poor Performance on Mathematical Problem Solving in Physics." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2003, Madison, WI, August 6-7, 2003.</a>

AIP Format

J. Tumaniro and E. Redish, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2003, Madison, WI, 2003, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=2984&DocID=2781).

AJP/PRST-PER

J. Tumaniro and E. Redish, Understanding Students' Poor Performance on Mathematical Problem Solving in Physics, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2003, Madison, WI, 2003, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=2984&DocID=2781>.

APA Format

Tumaniro, J., & Redish, E. (2003, August 6-7). Understanding Students' Poor Performance on Mathematical Problem Solving in Physics. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2003, Madison, WI. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=2984&DocID=2781

Chicago Format

Tumaniro, Jonathan, and Edward F. Redish. "Understanding Students' Poor Performance on Mathematical Problem Solving in Physics." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2003, Madison, WI, August 6-7, 2003. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=2984&DocID=2781 (accessed 24 April 2024).

MLA Format

Tumaniro, Jonathan, and Edward F. Redish. "Understanding Students' Poor Performance on Mathematical Problem Solving in Physics." Physics Education Research Conference 2003. Madison, WI: 2003. 113-116 Vol. 720 of PER Conference. 24 Apr. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=2984&DocID=2781>.

BibTeX Export Format

@inproceedings{ Author = "Jonathan Tumaniro and Edward F. Redish", Title = {Understanding Students' Poor Performance on Mathematical Problem Solving in Physics}, BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2003}, Pages = {113-116}, Address = {Madison, WI}, Series = {PER Conference}, Volume = {720}, Month = {August 6-7}, Year = {2003} }

Refer Export Format

%A Jonathan Tumaniro %A Edward F. Redish %T Understanding Students' Poor Performance on Mathematical Problem Solving in Physics %S PER Conference %V 720 %D August 6-7 2003 %P 113-116 %C Madison, WI %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=2984&DocID=2781 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2003 %O August 6-7 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Conference Proceedings %A Tumaniro, Jonathan %A Redish, Edward F. %D August 6-7 2003 %T Understanding Students' Poor Performance on Mathematical Problem Solving in Physics %B Physics Education Research Conference 2003 %C Madison, WI %V 720 %P 113-116 %S PER Conference %8 August 6-7 %@ 0-7354-0200-0 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=2984&DocID=2781

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