Speaker
Mrs
Charlotte Hillebrand-Viljoen
(University of Cape Town)
Description
A course in intermediate mathematics, including linear algebra, is usually a corequisite for an intermediate level physics course and linear algebra is generally considered an important tool for physicists. However, students often struggle both with understanding linear algebra in the abstract (in maths class) and with applying linear algebra concepts to physics.
We present a description, based on Grounded Theory, of student and expert perspectives on linear algebra and its applications in quantum mechanics. This is a multidimensional picture involving not only students' and experts' aptitude with linear algebra and quantum mechanics, but also their strategies for applying one to the other and their subjective attitudes towards how useful and usable the topics in question are.
Apply to be<br> considered for a student <br> award (Yes / No)?
Yes
Main supervisor (name and email)<br>and his / her institution
Dr Spencer Wheaton, UCT
spencer.wheaton@uct.ac.za
Level for award<br> (Hons, MSc, <br> PhD, N/A)?
PhD
Would you like to <br> submit a short paper <br> for the Conference <br> Proceedings (Yes / No)?
Yes
Primary author
Mrs
Charlotte Hillebrand-Viljoen
(University of Cape Town)
Co-author
Dr
Spencer Wheaton
(Department of Physics)
