Arduino and numerical mathematics

Abstract

Connecting theory and practice in teaching is sometimes difficult, as it requires expensive or delicate equipment, thus limiting the teacher to giving demonstrations in which students are passive participants. Numerical mathematics, as an applied discipline, should be taught on real world examples. By using inexpensive Arduino hardware, we can create simple experiments that are easily reproduced by students. Furthermore, the experiments generate tangible data, which can be processed numerically. The choice of the software used for numerical processing is also an important issue. We present several exercises in numerical mathematics that are based on experiments in electrical engineering with Arduino, and show how to turn them into motivational examples. We also present our experiences in teaching using the developed exercises, as well as some important points and conclusions, which stem from discussions with the participating students and teachers.