INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC & TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH VOLUME 6, ISSUE 09, SEPTEMBER 2017 ISSN 2277-8616

Calculus Problem Solution And Simulation Using

GUI Of Matlab
Syaharuddin, Habib Ratu Perwira Negara, Vera Mandailina, Lalu Sucipto

Abstract: This research aims to develop the project application in teaching and learning Calculus using Grapichal User Interface (GUI) of Matlab. The
scope of the development result includes (1) PreCalculus, (2) Function Limit, (3) Derivative and its application, and (4) Integral and its application. Every
aspect of development is presented according to the standards of material competence, learning achievement indicators, and solutions or settlement
steps on each issue presented. This project application can be used by lecturers and students in universities to improve motivation, mastery of material
and student learning outcomes in the Calculus course. Development of this project application is done through 4 stages called 4-D namely: Define,
Design, Development, and Dissemination. Based on the data analysis, the results obtained at the validation stage of expert validity level average of
3.575, which means "quite valid". Then on a limited trial the average student gave a response of 92.00% which means "very good". While in the first field
trial the average student gave a response of 89.30% which means "very good", and in the second field trial the average student gave a responded of
90.15% which means "very good". Besides that, we also solve computational calculus problems in Edwin J. Purcell Dale Varberg's Book of Volume 1 of
Edition 5 of 48 questions that are divided into 64 cases.

Index Terms: GUI of Matlab, Teaching, Learning, Calculus.

————————————————————

1 INTRODUCTION 2 GUI OF MATLAB

Calculus is one of the areas of mathematics that deals mostly Matlab (matrix laboratory) which consists of 5 main
with the basic concepts of mathematics, such as (1) Real components namely:
Number Systems, (2) Functions, (3) Limit, (4) Derivatives, and a. Toolbar contains various control tools for Matlab.
(5) Integral [1]. Calculus serves as one of the compulsory b. Current Folder as a place of folders or files that have
courses of students throughout Indonesia, especially in the been stored and connected with Matlab.
field of science, as a basis for studying various other fields of c. Windows Command as the main worksheet in Matlab
mathematics. Therefore, Calculus serves as a prerequisite where users build regular scribs direct execution.
course for other courses such as Advanced Calculus, d. Workspace as a workspace where files or variables are
Differential Equations, Numerical Methods, Real Analysis, stored in Command Windows [3.7].
Mathematical Statistics, Complex Variable Functions, and e. Grapichal User Interface (GUI) is one of the components
others.However, field facts are still found lecturers gives of Matlab to create a more efficient and appealing
abstractly and not optimal in learning calculus, it is necessary mathematical problem solving interface [4].
media solution and simulation based to explain the material in
order to improve understanding of the concept in each student
and able to help students to comprehend widely Calculus
material. Development of ICT-based learning especially
Calculus must use accurate and optimal simulation based
software [1, 2], so MATLAB is the recommended software in
this case. MATLAB (matrix laboratory) is a program for
Running
numerical analysis and computer, is an advanced
Attributes
mathematical programming language that is in the form of
rationale using the properties and form of matrix [6]. Another
opinion says that MATLAB is a high-compliant programming
language in the computing field, not only has the ability in Worksheet
terms of computing, but also the ability of good visualization. Place put attribute
MATLAB has the ability to integrate computing, visualization
(simulation) and programming [7].

_________________________ Fig. 1 Grapichal User Interface Matlab

 Syaharuddin, Muhammadiyah University of Mataram,
Indonesia, Email: [email protected] MATLAB has the following benefits: (1) mathematical
 Habib Ratu Perwira Negara, STMIK Bumigora of calculation, (2) numerical computation, (3) simulation and
Mataram,Indonesia, Email: [email protected] modeling; (4) visualization and data analysis; (5) graphics for
 Vera Mandailina, Muhammadiyah University of science and engineering; and (6) application development, For
Mataram, Indonesia,Email: [email protected] example by utilizing the GUI. The structure of the
 Lalu Sucipto, Islamic University of Mataram, programming language used in the application development
Indonesia Email: [email protected] consists of three logic namely (1) sequential structure, (2)
looping structure like: for, while, and repeat until and (3)
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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC & TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH VOLUME 6, ISSUE 09, SEPTEMBER 2017 ISSN 2277-8616

branching structure like: if then else, and case of. Looping 4. Dissemination. The last stage is the distribution of product
structure is generally used for graph-based simulation-based development to the general audience, especially lecturers
application development while branching structures are used and students of the early semester who are taking
to solve optimization cases. The attributes used are tailored to Calculus courses to be used as media and tools in order
the built application, there are seven attributes that are often to improve understanding and learning outcomes.
used in application development besides toolbar as additional
settings and attributes when running. But in this study not all
attributes are used. The attributes used in the development of
this application that is EditText, StatisText, PushButton, Table,
Axes, Panel, and BtnGroup. While the usefulness of each
attribute is described in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 : ATTRIBUTES OF GUI AND ITS FUNCTIONS [5]

Name Icons Function

Push Button As a button (process, delete, etc.)

Slider Minimize the screen display

RadioButton To put a choice

CheckBox To put a choice

EditText As a place of input or output

StaticText As the property label is used

Pop-upMenu Same with Check Box

ListBox Output in a large number of strings

ToggleButton Same with Push Button

Table Make output in tabular form.

Axes To draw a graph / histogram

Panel Unify attributes in one group Fig. 2. Product Development Model

BtnGroup Unify attributes in one group 3.2 Data Collection Instruments
Activex Brings up some important controls. Instruments used in this research are (1) Expert Validation
Control Sheet/Format, (2) Questionnaire Sheet of Limited Trials, and
(3) Questionnaire Sheet of Field Trials. At the validation stage,
3 DEVELOPMENT METHODS we selected 3 experts as assessors according to their
respective fields of programming, media, and materials. The
3.1 Development Model respective assessment aspects are described in Table 2
The product produced in this development research is below.
application program as teaching and learning media of
Calculus. The development model used in this research is 4-D TABLE 2: VALIDATOR AND ASPECT ASSESSMENT
(Define, Design, Development, and Dissemination) developed
No Validator Aspect
by Thiangarajan, Semmel and Semmel (1974) modified [8, 9].
1 Programming Media efficiency, Function keys, and
1. Define. At this stage, the researcher performs a final physical quality
preliminary analysis, learning achievement indicator, test 2 Media Quality of design (appearance), quality of
model used, and selection of application outline. buttons
2. Design. At this stage, the researcher builds the initial GUI 3 Material Quality of material (input), quality of
language, and quality of output (reporting)
design, selects the formats and attributes, optimizes the
layout of the form design, resulting in the first prototype.
3. Development. At this stage the researchers divide the 3 While in the questionnaire of respondents combined from the
activities of validation, limited trials, and field trials. We assessment of experts is aspects of programming, content and
select expert experts in their respective fields as validators appearance (design).
to assess and provide feedback to build a reliable and
optimal GUI. After the application is "quite valid" level, we 3.3 Data Analysis Techniques
then proceed to the limited trial stage to see the
practicality of the product being developed, and lastly we Technical Analysis of Validity
conducted a field trial involving many respondents and The process of data analysis of the validity of the developed
cross-colleges. product is done by formula [9]:

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n
4.2 Result of Limited and Field Trials
V i

R 
i 1
… (1) Result of Limited Trials
n After the revision according to the instructions or input from the
1. Determine the degree of validity based on the conversion expert, then obtained the design or Prototype 2 for later
of the average values obtained with the validity level conducted a limited trial. Limited trials were conducted on 5
interval as shown in Table 3 below: students. The results of the limited trial are according to Table
5 below.
TABEL 3: INTERVALS OF VALIDITY VALUE
TABLE 5: RESULT OF LIMITED TRIALS
Intervals Level of Validity
Respondents
Variables Average
R=5 Very valid 1 2 3 4 5
4≤R<5 Valid Average 4.25 4.65 4.60 4.70 4.80 4.60
Percentage 85.0 93.0 92.0 94.0 96.0 92.0
3≤R<4 Quite valid
2≤R<3 Less valid
Based on the calculation of Table 5 above, the average
1≤R<2 Invalid
student gave a response of 92.00% which means the
application being developed is categorized "very good".
2. Declare a product that meets the validity criteria, if the However, based on the results of questionnaires from
minimum validity level achieved is quite valid. Then the
respondents there are still some shortcomings such as the
product continued to be used or used in limited trials and sentence part of the solution case, the suitability of the use of
field trials. images, clarity and language communication used, the
suitability of the selection of the size and typeface. Some
Technical Analysis of Product Trials sections are revised in Prototype 2 such as (1) improvements
Data of student response result through questionnaire in size and typeface, (2) Simulation size (graph) is maximal,
collected, then tabulated. The result of tabulation of each and (3) Sub menu is adjusted indicator of learning
response is calculated for percentage, by formula [9]: achievement.
Score Per Item … (2)
Percentage (P)   Maximum Score
 100 % Result of Field Trials
After conducting a limited trial, then some revision of the
advice of the students (respondents) in the limited trial stage
TABLE 4: CATEGORY INTERVALS OF APPLICATION so that obtained Prototype 3 which is then used for field trials.
Field trials were conducted twice, with 20 respondents
Percentage (%) Categories (students) each trial. In the first field test, the respondent gave
P  20 Not Good an additional assessment on the aspect of the speed of the
20  P < 40 Less Good button reaction, this is because the file size is too large and
40  P < 60 Pretty Good the number of attributes used so that it is rather slow in
60  P < 80 Good displaying the output both the completion step and simulation
P  80 Very Good graph. In addition, there is also the use of less communicative
language, the suitability of the selection of the size and type of
letters, the layout of text and images, the suitability of GUI
4 DEVELOPMENT RESULT background selection, and there are words / sentences that
have not match the performance indicators. The results of field
4.1 Result of Expert Validation trials are as in Figure 3 and Figure 4 below.
Expert validation is performed after initial design or Prototype
1 is completed. Expert validation is performed to ask for
advice or input related to 3 aspects, there are content (outline
of material), programming, and display. At this stage, the
expert team places more emphasis on visualization of the
applications being built, such as the suitability of colors in each
component with the background of each GUI, the breadth of
performance indicators, the compatibility and consistency of
the button display, and the memory capacity of the files for
easy distribution. Based on the validation results obtained the
average expert assessment is 3.575 which means "quite
valid". From the results of this validation then proceeded to a
limited trial and field trials. Some revisions in this stage such
as (1) the position of some buttons is set well, (2) maximize
tools have been activated, (3) sub menu hints and Fig. 3 Result of First Field Trials
programmer and some simulation picture have been
completed. Based on the data calculation in Figure 3 above, the average
student gaves a response of 89.3% which means the
application being developed is categorized "very good".

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TABLE 6: OUTLINE OF CAPTION APPLICATION

Menu Sub Menu

Help Programmer Team, Manual Book
Distance Between Two Points, Midpoints,
Straight Line Equations, Circle Equations,
PreCalculus
Equations and Quadratic Functions, Function
Graphs, and Function Operations.
Limit and Function Limit Simulation, Limit Operation,
Function Function Derivative and Its Application.
Derivative
Definite and Indefinite Integral, Area dan
Integral
Volume of Rotary Object.

Fig. 4 Result of Second Field Trials

While in the second field trial obtained the average students

gives a response of 90.15% response which means the
application is being developed categorized "very good".
Nevertheless, there are still some drawbacks regarding the
aspect of the display which is almost identical to the outcome
in the first field trial. The remaining deficiencies in Prototype 3
have been enhanced as follows: (1) Regular color
combinations on some GUI forms, (2) some "Exit" buttons
have been removed because they have no significant
functionality, and (3) Already in running in project form.

4.3 Final Product

From the validation and trial activities both limited and field of
the application has been developed there are some advice
from the validator and respondent, both related to the content
Fig. 6. Font Design of CAPTION
(outline) of the application, programming settings (input, output
and graphics), and display. Based on the results of validation
CAPTION (Calculus Problem Solution) is a specially
and product testing obtained the following chart:
constructed application of Calculus, especially Basic Calculus
given to early semester students. Based on the results of the
Initial Design Prototype 1 development that has been done, we provide more value to
the application in terms of simulation and solution-based.
1. Presented in menus and sub menus easily operated by
Expert Validation Prototype 2 users (students and lecturers)
2. Indicators are adapted to the curriculum applicable to
Indonesian universities in general.
Limited Trials Prototype 3 3. In each GUI given input components, process (count), and
output in the form of problem solving and graph
simulation.
Field Trials Prototype 4 4. In the simulation part of the graph is given the time rhythm
so that the simulation looks effective.
: Revision
5. Each performance indicator is presented with multiple
: After Revision
case solutions
: Path of activity
: Design 6. Each graph is given a 3-dimensional attribute
7. Can be developed in more directions using GUI by adding
many more features.
Fig. 5 Step Product Development Activity
In addition to the application development in the form of GUI
The result of the revision resulted in the application of GUI above, we also developed a computing algorithm that plays at
Matlab-based project for the settlement of Calculus cases, so the m-file level to solve the calculus problems contained in
the research team gave the name of this application as Edwin J. Purcell Dale Varberg's Book of Volume 1 Issue 5,
"CAPTION (Calculus Problems Solution)", we have which comprises 48 computing categories of divided problems
successfully developed 25 GUI for simulation of kalulus case In 64 cases. Because these problems require computational
with the details of the development result as follows: scribs to perform simulations and determine their numerical
solutions.

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4 DISCUSSION [5] D, Ibrahim, “Engineering Simulation with MATLAB:

This CAPTION (Calculus Problems Solution) project Improving Teaching and Learning Effectiveness”, Procedia
application needs to be developed on a larger scale and a Computer Science, no. 3, pp. 853-858, 2011.
broader range of indicators (outlines) in order to be fully
utilized by students at every level of the university. For [6] L. Guangpu and G. Yuchun, “The Application of MATLAB
example for numerical problems such as: in Communication Theory”, Procedia Enginerring, no. 29,
1. The derivative and integral application in the transcendent pp. 321-324, 2011.
function, the volume of the broader rotary object with multi
variables. [7] S. K. Sen and G. A. Shaykhian, “MatLab Tutorial for
2. Numerical methods such as simulation equation solutions Scientific and Engineering Computations International
and systems of nonlinear equations, approximation and Federation of Nonlinear Analysts (IFNA); 2008 World
interpolation, derivatives and numerical integral, and Congress of Nonlinear Analysts (WCNA)”, Nonlinier
numerical differential equations. Analysis, no. 71, pp. 1005-1020, 2009.

5 CONCLUSION [8] S. Thiagarajan, D. S. Semmel and M. I. Semmel,

Instructional Development for Training Teachers of
1. The result of the product developed in the form of an
Exceptional Children: A Sourcebook, .Washington, D. C:
application program which is then called "CAPTION"
National Center for Improvement of Educational Systems
abbreviated as "Calculus Problems Solution".
DHEW/OE, pp. 6-9, 1974.
2. The final product results developed in the form of
Grapichal User Interface (GUI) based applications include: [9] Syaharuddin and V. Mandailina, “Pengembangan
(1) Precalculus (Distance Between Two Points, Middle Software Matematika SMP/MTs Berbasis Solutif
Point, Straight Line Equation, Equation of Circles, Menggunakan Borland Delphi”, Beta Journal, no. 2, pp.
Equations and Quadratic Functions, Function Graphs, and 195-204, Nopember 2016.
Function Operations), (2) Function and Derivative Limit
(Function Limit Simulation, Limit Operation, Derivative
Function and Its Application), (3) Integral (Definite and
Indefinite Integral, Area and Volume of Rotary Object).
3. In the expert validation stage obtained the level of validity
and the average of 3.575 which means "quite valid". Then
on a limited trial the students gave an average response
of 92.00% which means "very good". While in the first field
trial the student gave an average response of 89.30%
which means "very good", and in the second field trial the
student gave an average response of 92.15% which
means "very good".

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The research team would like to thank the manager of
Mathematics Laboratory FKIP UM Mataram and FITK UIN
Mataram who have given permission to conduct field trials.

REFERENCES
[1] A. F. M. Ayub, “Teaching and Learning Calculus Using
Computer”, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, pp. 1-11,
September 2015.

[2] A. Kilicman, M. A. Hassan, and S. K. S. Husain, “Teaching

and Learning using Mathematics Software ”The New
Challenge””, Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences,
no. 8, pp. 613-619, 2010.

[3] A. F. M. Ayub, M. Z. Mokhtar, W. S. Luan, and R. A.

Tarmizi, “A Comparison of Two Different Technologies
Tools in Tutoring Calculus”, Procedia Social and
Behavioral Sciences, no. 2, pp. 481-486, January 2010.

[4] C. Reddy, S. Ravi, and Giriraja C. V, “Baby Monitoring

Through MATLAB Graphical User Interface”, International
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