Mathematical tools allow us to clearly explain the phenomenon studied in administrative science. Various studies have shown that linear function is a concept, widely used in administration, as well as in other kinds of science, but difficult for students to grasp and assimilate as a tool in their studies. That is the reason that the objective of the present project was to determine the difficulties faced by students of administration in learning the concept of the linear function, based on the theoretical elements of Raymond Duval’s registers of semiotic representation, to identify areas of opportunity in the teaching/learning process of this mathematical concept. Therefore, we designed an instrument made up of eight situations, which altogether consist of 24 problems. This instrument was validated by three experts in the area. Later, in keeping with the nature of the data to be collected, the instrument was given to a small randomly chosen sample group of six students studying under-graduate level administration and who were taking the subject of Mathematics for Business I. Students had the most difficulty in dealing with the registry of graphic representation and the cognitive activity of conversion between graphic and algebraic registers. It was also discovered that apparently context problems favored the latter conversion activity. We recommend these findings be further studied in a didactic approach to the issue, as well as carrying out studies of this nature on other mathematical objects in the course.

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Semiotic Representations of the Linear Function by Students Studying Administration

espanolSe exhiben los resultados de un instrumento para analizar semiosis matematica basica en estudiantes de ingenieria de la Universidad Politecnica de Baja California. El marco sustentante es la teoria de registros de representacion. El instrumento fue disenado para analizar transformaciones entre registros, mostrandose problemas por parte de los estudiantes para llevar a cabos algunas de las transformaciones, espec{ficamente para resolver situaciones en donde la conversion es de algebraico al lenguaje natural (v viceversa), de grafico al algebraico, asi como en el tratamiento en lenguaje natural. Los reactivos que aluden al lenguaje natural y al registro algebraico revelaron respuestas menos acertadas. EnglishThis article shows the results of an instrument far analyzing basic mathematical semiotics in engineering students of the Poly technic University of Baja California. Basis is the theoiy of semiotic representations. The instrument was developed for the analysis of transformations between registers, showing problems when students seeksome kinds oftransformations, spec(fically to salve situations where conversion is from algebraic to natural language (and vice versa), from graphic to algebraic, as well as in the treatment activity in natural language. In most cases the reactives that refer to natural language and the algebraic types ofregisters revealedfewer correct answers

José David Sevilla García

Papers

Diagnóstico sobre habilidades semióticas matemáticas básicas en estudiantes de ingeniería