FINDING THE QUADRATIC POLYNOMIAL FUNCTION THROUGH PROBLEM-SOLVING IN THE PRACTICAL ACTIVITY OF ROCKET CONSTRUCTION

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the pedagogical potential of teaching quadratic polynomial functions through the Problem-Solving methodology, using a practical activity based on the construction and launch of artisanal rockets. A qualitative approach with participant observation was adopted, conducted at a public university in Northwest Paraná. The research involved 15 Mathematics Education undergraduate students and was carried out over two weeks. Data were collected through open- and closed-ended questionnaires, analyzed categorically. The main findings indicate that the practical activity was perceived as a genuine problem, with students reporting difficulties and initial uncertainty in determining the rockets’ trajectory, relying solely on prior knowledge. Identified potentialities include student protagonism, engaging and playful learning, and application to real-world contexts. Fun, collaboration, and competition were the predominant feelings, with no reports of sadness or boredom, highlighting the activity’s motivational potential.