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Topic: Teaching the Concept of Functions


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Subject:   Teaching the Concept of Functions
Author: Susan
Date: Sep 23 2004
Every year, I try to get the students not to say, "Oh, you just cross out f(x)
and write y...what's the big deal."  They can recite the definition of a
function from their text--for each x-coordinate there is exactly one
corresponding y-coordinate, but they have no idea what this means or how it
applies in the real world.  What are some ways that you teach this with meaning?
Do you have an analogy that really works for kids?  What about composition of
functions--how do you make that have meaning instead of it being a mechanical
process that students go through?  Do you have any resources that you really
like?  
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