Articles on Calculus

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Graphing calculators – like the ones used in this seventh grade Dallas classroom – have become ubiquitous in U.S. education. AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

June 14, 2017

The rise – and possible fall – of the graphing calculator

Frederick Peck, The University of Montana and David Erickson, The University of Montana

Teachers are starting to ditch graphing calculators for math apps. Was the expensive tech ever worth it – or is it just holding students back?

A student in Cape Coast solves a math problem. World Bank/flickr

June 2, 2017

How math education can catch up to the 21st century

Mary E. Pilgrim, Colorado State University and Thomas Dick, Oregon State University

By embracing a style beyond the typical classroom lecture, math education can serve all of our students better.

May 11, 2017

Arguments why God (very probably) exists

Robert H. Nelson, University of Maryland

There remain many mysteries that are beyond science. Does that mean that a God truly exists? A scholar gives reasons for this possibility.

Lightning moves pretty quickly; would you call it instantaneous? Steven Vanderburg, NOAA

September 15, 2016

What exactly does ‘instantaneous’ mean?

Kevin Knudson, University of Florida

An instant likely feels different to a person, or a redwood, or a gnat. What's infinitely small for one might be a whole lifetime for another – and that scale influences the choices we make.

Pi is at the center of all circles. Holger Motzkau

March 14, 2016

Pi pops up where you don’t expect it

Lorenzo Sadun, University of Texas at Austin

We know pi appears when we talk about circles. But it appears in many other places, too. Why, pi, why?

The author, teaching at the very front of his calculus class. Kevin Knudson

November 20, 2015

The rush to calculus is bad for students and their futures in STEM

Kevin Knudson, University of Florida

More students are taking Advanced Placement calculus in high school. They may be learning techniques for solving certain problems at the expense of the mathematical foundations they need to advance.

Top contributors

Kevin Knudson
Professor of Mathematics, University of Florida
Robert H. Nelson
Professor of Public Policy, University of Maryland
Lorenzo Sadun
Professor of Mathematics, University of Texas at Austin
Mary E. Pilgrim
Assistant Professor of Mathematics Education, Colorado State University
Thomas Dick
Professor of Mathematics, Oregon State University
Frederick Peck
Assistant Professor of Mathematical Sciences, The University of Montana
David Erickson
Professor, Teaching and Learning, The University of Montana