When Am I (N)ever Going to Use This? How Engineers Use Algebra (NSF DRL)

Abstract

Advanced mathematics is required for all engineering degrees, however there have been relatively few research investigations of how engineers use specific math concepts they learn in college. In the present study, we interviewed 12 engineers, asking them a series of questions about how they use particular kinds of algebraic functions (e.g., linear, exponential, quadratic) in their work. The purpose of these interviews was to use the responses to create mathematical scenarios for College Algebra activities that would be personalized to community college students' career interests. This curriculum would represent how algebra is used in practice by STEM professionals. However, our results were not what we expected in that engineers did not typically use many of the concepts from College Algebra. In this paper, we discuss three major themes that arose from qualitative analyses of the interviews, and their implications for the field of engineering.