eJMT Abstract

This paper provides a fresh approach for an introductory exploration of metric spaces, illustrating methods for using Excel creatively to discover interesting insights into mathematics. We use diverse examples of metrics to provide insights into the concept of distance, and see how it arises in the areas of geometry, calculus, and other well-known areas of mathematics. Along the way, we encounter inequalities and other aspects of classical mathematics, provide new problem solving and teaching techniques, and present a means of discovering patterns by employing spreadsheets to enhance the visual interpretation of a vital field of mathematics.