Electronic Proceedings of the Twenty-sixth Annual International Conference on Technology in Collegiate Mathematics

San Antonio, Texas, March 20-23, 2014

Paper C001

This is an electronic reprint, reproduced by permission of Pearson Education Inc. Originally appeared in the Proceedings of the Twenty-sixth Annual International Conference on Technology in Collegiate Mathematics, ISBN 0113866726,Copyright (C) 2015 by Pearson Education, Inc.


Visualizing Three-Dimensional Objects in Multivariable Calculus Using 3-D Enabled Handouts

Przemyslaw Bogacki


Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA 23529


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ABSTRACT

Numerous topics in multivariable calculus involve three-dimensional geometry objects, e.g., points, vectors, lines, curves, planes, surfaces, and solids. Students often find these objects difficult to visualize, partially owing to the limitations inherent to the traditional 2-dimensional media, such as whiteboards or pages in textbooks.

After our earlier attempts to address these difficulties, we are currently developing a collection of simple but effective modules which would allow the students to explore 3D objects in an interactive fashion (including zoom, rotate, pan viewport controls). The technology we use will ensure accessibility of these modules using a web browser on a wide variety of platforms, including smartphones and tablets.

Keyword(s): multivariable calculus, mobile platforms