Ensino de Funções Polinomiais de Grau Maior que Dois Através da Análise de seus Gráficos, com Auxílio do Software Graphmatica

Abstract

Dealing with polynomial functions of degree greater than two, in their algebraic form, requires much time in the classroom. Moreover, the graphs of functions sketched by the students in their notebooks may not be exact, interfering in the analysis of the properties of the graphs. Taking this reality into account and the difficulties that many students present in the resolution of exercises involving graphs, the objective of the present research was to propose and investigate an alternative approach to teaching this content, using the software Graphmatica. We developed a pedagogical intervention with 150 third-year high school students in which we used the pedagogical material presented in this paper. Students took a test composed of university entry exam items that allows us to check their learning through this approach, since the percentage of right items was satisfactory. We therefore showed a dynamic and interactive alternative way for students to study polynomial functions of degree greater than two.