Effectiveness of the Symbolab Calculator in Improving Second Year Science and Mathematics Students Ability to Solve Trigonometric Equations

Abstract

Trigonometry is a challenging area of mathematics for many students, especially for pre-service primary teachers in TTCs. The Symbolab calculator, software developed to assist mathematicians in solving complex problems, is used to improve students' performance and understanding. This study investigated the effectiveness of using the Symbolab calculator on second-year student-teachers, comparing their performance with those without the calculator. The data was analysed using the t-test. The findings showed that the integration of the Symbolab calculator significantly improved students' performance and understanding, reducing the time taken to solve trigonometric equations. It is recommended that further research be conducted on the effectiveness of combining different instructional methods in trigonometry instruction. There is a need to encourage teachers to adopt various pedagogical strategies for improved learning outcomes.