[MATHEDCC] Technology and Trig

Tischer, Diane (DTISCHER@metropo.mccneb.edu)
Thu, 18 Mar 1999 08:26:33 -0600

I am working on using technology to address the misconceptions that I fight
most frequently with students in a trigonometry course. I am hoping that
there are materials somewhere that have already dealt with the issues. If
anyone knows of software, web sites, etc. that might be possibilities,
please let me know. The issues I am focusing on deal with errors in
interpreting notation and are:(The e-mail editor I am using does not allow
me to add superscripts and type nicely so I hope that these are
understandable.)
1. sin(superscript -1)x does not mean csc x even though
sin(superscript 2)x means sin squared of x.
2. The statement: sin(superscript -1)x = theta should be translated
to sin theta = x.
and 3. When simplifying product to sum answers, realize that 1/2(sin 4x
+ sin 2x) does NOT equal sin 2x + sin x. (I have just completed graphing y
= 1/2(sinx) and y = sin 2x and they do that successfully but don't relate
it to this!)

Any suggestions would be helpful and appreciated!
Diane Tischer
Mathematics Department
Metropolitan Community College
Box 3777
Omaha, NE 68103
(402) 457-2504

dtischer@metropo.mccneb.edu
****************************************************************************
* To post to the list: email mathedcc@archives.math.utk.edu *
* To unsubscribe, send mail to: majordomo@archives.math.utk.edu *
* In the mail message, enter ONLY the words: unsubscribe mathedcc *
* Words in the Subject: line are NOT processed! *
* Archives at http://archives.math.utk.edu/hypermail/mathedcc/ *
****************************************************************************