This site gives users a detailed tutorial about square root function, both on real numbers and on the complex plane. This tutorial includes interactive numerical examples with imbedded web Mathematica tool to allow users to plot graphs with their choice of selections for minimum/maximum values for real part and imaginary part. It contains an interactive component that shows the real part, imaginary part, and magnitude of the square root function.
Type of Material:
Presentation and Tutorial
Recommended Uses:
The material is more suited either in preparation for teaching, or in assigning homework to students of mathematics post high school (at college level), whilst studying Complex Numbers.
It can also be used as supplemental material for elementary algebra course.
Technical Requirements:
It is a simple HTML site with lots of clickable links, references, and supplementary materials. Users can access this site using any browser.
It was tested on Safari v11.1 with Flash enabled.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
It is used to present the topic of square root function to students with examples and interactive web Mathematica tool which is very helpful for students to have a good visualization for the square root function. Students will learn to
Recognise that Square Roots are nth roots where n=2
Recognise that Square Root refers to the Principle (ie positive) square root
Define the square roots of a complex number
Simplify nested radicals into square roots
Target Student Population:
Students at colleges and universities who are taking elementary algebra, college algebra, or pre-calculus class. Students who are taking math placement test can also benefit from this material.
It also targets students in college upper division and graduate school
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
The material assumes knowledge of: Surds; The Real and Imaginary plane; Complex numbers; Trigonometric Functions; Continuous Functions; Nested Functions; Cartesian plane; Polar plots and Basic knowledge of algebra.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
This site contains concise and clear explanation of the square root function with numerical examples. This site also provides web tool in MATHEMATICA for the real and imaginary parts, as well as, the magnitude of the square root function.
It has:
Definitions and arguments are built in a logical, step-by-step fashion.
Content is clear and appropriate for the level
Full references are provided, and hyperlinked suitably.
Concerns:
None
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
This site provides a good tutorial and supplementary resource for both instructor and student in the class. For example, instructor can use the interactive part of web MATHEMATICA as a part of lecture in the square root function, while students can benefit from this material as a summary for the lecture, and interactive part can provide a good visualization for students when they study or do a homework related to the square function root.
Some of the outstanding features relating to its effectiveness are:
The clear layout of the resource means that it is easy to identify teaching and learning goals. (see concerns)
The resource encourages further exploration by providing examples and linked topics.
The reader is not dependent on one or two examples. The page is equipped with an interactive widget, delivering conceptual understanding.
The resource is concise - one can learn a lot in a short period of time.
Concerns:
The learning goals are not explicitly stated - it IS an encyclopaedic resource.
There is slightly limited scope to use it as teaching in the classroom as the entry appears as encyclopaedia-like. (However, this should not deter educators from utilising this as flipped learning, or as a homework/project assignment.)
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
Students and instructors can access the material in this site easily using all the clickable buttons, references, and interactive tools. All of the examples in this site are connected to each other. Instructors can use the materials of this site in their math classes lectures and assignments. The resource is very easy to use and it is an aesthetically pleasing web page, clear, and logical.
Concerns:
None
Creative Commons:
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