Using graphing calculators for teaching advanced calculus courses

A. Y. Vaninsky

pp. 29-34

in: Magued Iskander (ed), Innovative techniques in instruction technology, e-learning, e-assessment, and education, Berlin, Springer, 2008

Abstract

It is suggested to extend using graphing calculators with symbolic calculations capabilities beyond the traditional framework of their applications. Among the new applications are evaluation of partial derivatives and the derivatives of composite functions, improper and repeated integrals, derivatives of the definite integrals with functional limits of integration, Laplace transforms, functional determinants, partial fractions etc. Such problems are typical for advanced calculus courses, and graphing calculator can serve as convenient alternative for more expensive and less available computer algebra systems like Mathematica, Maple, MatLab etc. The paper presents experience of the author in teaching advanced calculus courses at one of the colleges of New York City