Single solution, multiple perspectives

This article reviews a model-eliciting activity, with a single-numerical answer, implemented in a calculus class at the university level. A closer look at students' solutions reveals multiple perspectives in solving the problem, perspectives that present students' conceptual and representational systems. Most model-eliciting activities allow for multiple responses, and consequently multiple approaches. This article presents the wide variety of modeling perspectives, even though the activity has a single numerical answer.