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Student difficulties with complex numbers
Complex numbers and functions are used in multiple subfields in undergraduate physics. We use pretests, quizzes, and exams administered throughout the junior year to identify middle-division students' difficulties with complex number fluency. These difficulties are classified into three categories: performing calculations, switching between forms, and appropriately selecting forms to simplify calculations. Our exploration suggests that students in middle-division physics courses have varying levels of fluency with complex number manipulations. Some of these difficulties persist over time.
Physics Education Research Conference 2015
Part of the PER Conference series College Park, MD: July 29-30, 2015 Pages 311-314
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![]() <a href="https://www.per-central.org/items/detail.cfm?ID=13897">Smith, E, J. Zwolak, and C. Manogue. "Student difficulties with complex numbers." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2015, College Park, MD, July 29-30, 2015.</a>
![]() E. Smith, J. Zwolak, and C. Manogue, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2015, College Park, MD, 2015, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13897&DocID=4315).
![]() E. Smith, J. Zwolak, and C. Manogue, Student difficulties with complex numbers, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2015, College Park, MD, 2015, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13897&DocID=4315>.
![]() Smith, E., Zwolak, J., & Manogue, C. (2015, July 29-30). Student difficulties with complex numbers. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2015, College Park, MD. Retrieved February 12, 2025, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13897&DocID=4315
![]() Smith, E, J. Zwolak, and C. Manogue. "Student difficulties with complex numbers." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2015, College Park, MD, July 29-30, 2015. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13897&DocID=4315 (accessed 12 February 2025).
![]() Smith, Emily M., Justyna Zwolak, and Corinne Manogue. "Student difficulties with complex numbers." Physics Education Research Conference 2015. College Park, MD: 2015. 311-314 of PER Conference. 12 Feb. 2025 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13897&DocID=4315>.
![]() @inproceedings{
Author = "Emily M. Smith and Justyna Zwolak and Corinne Manogue",
Title = {Student difficulties with complex numbers},
BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2015},
Pages = {311-314},
Address = {College Park, MD},
Series = {PER Conference},
Month = {July 29-30},
Year = {2015}
}
![]() %A Emily M. Smith %A Justyna Zwolak %A Corinne Manogue %T Student difficulties with complex numbers %S PER Conference %D July 29-30 2015 %P 311-314 %C College Park, MD %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13897&DocID=4315 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2015 %O July 29-30 %O application/pdf ![]() %0 Conference Proceedings %A Smith, Emily M. %A Zwolak, Justyna %A Manogue, Corinne %D July 29-30 2015 %T Student difficulties with complex numbers %B Physics Education Research Conference 2015 %C College Park, MD %P 311-314 %S PER Conference %8 July 29-30 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13897&DocID=4315 Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.
Citation Source Information
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