Mutual calculations in creating accounting models: a demonstration of the power of matrix mathematics in accounting education

ABSTRACT

The aim of this paper is to describe the innovative teaching approach used in the Southern Federal University, Russia, to teach accounting via a form of matrix mathematics. It thereby contributes to disseminating the technique of teaching to solve accounting cases using mutual calculations to a worldwide audience. The approach taken in this course provides useful insights for both accounting educators and accounting students by providing an alternative explanation and understanding of the main principles of accounting, and does so using a simple game simulation. This paper provides readers with an awareness of the broader international environment of accounting education and of the techniques that can be adopted in the teaching of accounting. The paper also demonstrates that any accounting operation can be represented by matrix equations, and, as a result, adds to the understanding of alternative processes of recording transactions and the mathematical generation of essential accounting reports. The paper thereby reveals the potential value of matrix-based approaches to accounting within the accounting educational environment.

KEYWORDS:

• Accounting education
• matrix accounting
• accounting theory course
• accounting teaching technique
• problem-solving

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 These spreadsheets are available from the first author on request.

2 As a rule, accounting uses tables (matrices) with totaling sections (rows and columns). Matrices in this form are referred to as framed matrices.

3 However, the last available, locally collected, data (for 2011 graduates) indicates that only one of the 44 graduates (2.2%) was not employed in a relevant graduate occupation, in further education (7) or in the Army (2) c.15 months after graduation.