By Gary A. Harris
Department of Mathematics
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas 79409
g.harris@ttu.edu
This workbook is the major portion of a junior level course required of all students seeking secondary teacher certification at Texas Tech University. It is first and foremost a mathematics course driven by the mathematics content. In it the students review and reinforce their understanding of mathematical concepts from arithmetic through linear algebra. Students become familiar with the general capabilities of a CAS, and obtain experience employing these capabilities to solve mathematical problems in the context of MAPLE. In order to communicate with the program students obviously have to use the appropriate syntax; however, learning MAPLE syntax is never considered to be the main objective. We view MAPLE as one example of a computer algebra system (CAS) and focus on the general capabilities of a CAS and how these relate to the mathematics at hand.
Justification: Computer algebra systems are having a profound impact on curriculum and instruction of mathematics at all levels from grade school through graduate school. Some argue that the very nature of mathematics is being altered by CAS. In any event it is clear that the current and future students of mathematics must be familiar with the capabilities of this technology and have experience with its use.
Prerequisites: It is assumed the students are familiar with the traditional lower division college level mathematics content including differential, integral, and multi variable calculus and linear algebra.
Contents:
1. Getting Started With Basic Calculation PDF MWS 2. Elementary Number Theory PDF MWS MAPLE Programming Supplement PDF MWS Technical Text PDF MWS 3. Binomial Theorem and Pascal's Triangle PDF MWS Quiz 1 PDF 4. Elementary Algebra PDF MWS Quiz 2 PDF 5. Basic of Graphing PDF MWS Quiz 3 PDF 6. Limits in Calculus PDF MWS 7. Derivatives in Calculus PDF MWS Quiz 4 PDF 8. Integration in Calculus via Area PDF MWS Quiz 5 PDF 9. Integration in Calculus via Anti-Derivatives PDF MWS Quiz 6 PDF 10. Sequences and Series PDF MWS 11. Elementary Matrix Manipulation PDF MWS 12. Matrices and Linear Systems PDF MWS Quiz 7 PDF 13. Matrices and Vector Spaces PDF MWS Quiz 8 PDF 14. Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors PDF MWS Quiz 9 PDF