Students' Understanding of the Function Concept: Concept Images and Concept Definitions

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to examine students' understanding of the function concept by examining their concept images and concept definition when the students are introduced to function concept through a formal definition and informal approach. The participants were traditional college students enrolled in Intermediate Algebra at a large university in the southeast region of the United States. The students completed a questionnaire that asked them to identify functions and non-functions, mentally construct functions from verbal statements, and provide a definition for the function concept. The questionnaires were analyzed for correct answers, justifications related to the identification of a function or non-function, and the accuracy of the definitions provided. Often students do not possess concept definitions that match their concept images.