Learning from Expressive Modeling Task a Mathematical Model by Electronic Spreadsheet for the Car's Trip Computations

Abstract

This study aimed to present an authentic way of showing how computer assisted mathematical modeling of a real world situation helped to understand mystery of that situation. To achieve this aim, a group of pre-service mathematics teachers has been asked to think on how the trip computer of cars calculates the values like instant fuel consumption, average fuel consumption and the distance to be taken with remaining fuel. The theoretical discussion on mathematical structure has been directed as semi-structured interview. Then, theoretical outcomes have been used to create the model on the electronic spreadsheet MS Excel. At the end of the study, it has been observed that students have easily understood the behavior of trip computer by the help of mathematical background of the spreadsheet model and they have also been awaked of the role of mathematics in a real sense.