On the continuity of functions

Abstract

In this paper, results of a questionnaire about continuity of functions are analysed. The tested students attend Novi Sad grammar school. The aim of this test was to check the student's theoretical and visual knowledge of continuous functions at the end of their high school education. The questions were given with and without the graphs of functions. The main conclusion is that the graph of a function has a significant influence on the students opinion about continuity. Looking at the graphs of functions mostly led to correct answers, but sometimes it causes problems, if it has a break. The idea came from a 1981 paper by Tall and Vinner, where the "concept image" of a continuous functions was examined. © 2006 Taylor & Francis.