Does the parameter represent a fundamental concept of linear algebra?

• Main Author: Kaufmann, Stefan-Harald
• Other Authors: HTW Dresden, Informatik, Mathematik
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Saechsische Landesbibliothek- Staats- und Universitaetsbibliothek Dresden 2012
• Subjects: Lineare Algebra; Parameter; Variable; Fundamentales Konzept; Mathematikdidaktik; linear algebra; parameter; variable; fundamental concept; mathematics education; ddc:510; rvk:SD 2009
• Online Access: http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:14-qucosa-80339; http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:14-qucosa-80339; http://www.qucosa.de/fileadmin/data/qucosa/documents/8033/Proceedings-636pages-Dresden2009_300-301.pdf

In mathematics the parameter is used as a special kind of a variable. The classification of the terms \"variable\" and \"parameter\" is often done by intuition and changes due to different situations and needs. The history of mathematics shows that these two terms represent the same abstract object in mathematics. In today´s mathematics, compared to variables, the parameter is declared as an unknown constant measure. This interpretation of parameters can be used in set theory for describing sets with an infinite number of elements. Due to this perspective the structure of vector spaces can be developed as a special structured set theory. Further, the concept of parameters can be seen as a model for developing mathematics education in linear algebra.