Open AccessA look to differential
Author(s) -
Alfonso Gómez
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of physics. conference series
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.21
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1742-6596
pISSN - 1742-6588
DOI - 10.1088/1742-6596/1414/1/012001
Subject(s) - differential calculus , meaning (existential) , differential (mechanical device) , context (archaeology) , presentation (obstetrics) , variable (mathematics) , calculus (dental) , function (biology) , computer science , mathematics , order (exchange) , algebra over a field , epistemology , pure mathematics , mathematical analysis , medicine , philosophy , paleontology , dentistry , radiology , evolutionary biology , engineering , biology , aerospace engineering , finance , economics
This paper reveals results of a research related to the presentation of the concept of differential for functions of a variable, from some calculus textbooks. Given that the concept of differential is closely linked to the concepts of derivative, integral and differential equation, the objective is to analyze the different ways of presenting the concept from those instances, in order to determine whether the presentation facilitates its understanding. The research follows a qualitative methodology based on a bibliographic review and conceptual didactic analysis, proceeding from content analysis corresponding to the notion of differential. It was found that the concept of differential in textbooks is presented in a geometric context, as an increment of a variable and as a function, dispossessed of its arithmetic meaning, being impossible to suppress the concept in the formal construction of the calculus.