THE IMPACT OF A COMPUTER ALGEBRA SYSTEM ON COLLEGE CALCULUS (MACSYMA, INTEGRATION, MUMATH)

Computer algebra systems, such as MACSYMA and muMATH, can perform exact integration through manipulations of symbols, not numbers. One major benefit is to decrease drastically the amount of time spent on teaching calculus students techniques of integration. This study found that by using a computer algebra system, students completed an integral calculus course in half the time and scored significantly better than control groups on conceptual and computational exams.;Using conceptual and computational exams, the experimental group was tested after five weeks of instruction against the control groups, tested after ten weeks of instruction. On the conceptual exam, without the use of the computer, the experimental group scored significantly better than the control group.;On the computational exam, with the use of MACSYMA, the experimental group not only scored significantly better than the control group but was able to complete the computations in half the time. In addition, the experimental group computed integrals beyond the scope of the techniques used in the control classes.;Thus, integral calculus can be taught in substantially less time with the aid of a computer algebra system, eliminating the teaching of techniques of integration, and yet produce equivalent or better conceptual understanding on the definition, purpose, and application of the integral. There may be significant curricular implications for college mathematics at all levels.;An experimental group of 40 calculus students was compared with two similarly sized control groups. All groups studied the same conceptual material. The experimental group used MACSYMA instead of performing the traditional paper and pencil techniques of integration and completed the material in half the time.