basic calculus

[jamey2k9]

I have absolutely no idea what calculus is please could someone explain the basics of calculus or at least say what it means

[Bignose]

In very short, it is the mathematics of change. For example, if a particle's position changes, the rate at which the position changes is called the acceleration. Calculus describes particle's velocity, the rate of change of it's position. Similarly, is that particle changes velocity, the rate of that change of velocity is it's acceleration.

 

Put slightly more mathematically, when you have an algebraic equation like x+7 = 10, the value of x isn't directly known, but can be solved for. x=3 in this case. 3 is the only solution to this equation, and in this regard x is going to be a constant because it can only equal 3. In calculus, we are interested in what happens when the value of x changes. In calculus, x isn't necessarily going to be equal to a constant. It may have a value that changes, and how it's value changes depends on the equation it needs to solve.

 

Wikipedia's intro article isn't too bad at all: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calculus

[ydoaPs]

There are two parts to calculus: differentiation and integration.

 

Differentiation is taking an equation and finding the slope. Integration is taking the slope and finding the equation. If you've taken an algebra class, you've already done this with lines.

[Mr Skeptic]

Suppose you have the graph of a function f(x). The derivative will give you the slope of the curve (aka the rate of change), and the integral will give you the area under the curve. It just so happens that integration and differentiation are exact opposites.

[cameron marical]

whats the point of all the symbols and signs that make it all look extraterestrial?

 

im sure there probably used for various variables and commands, but, if any one could list alot of them, thatd rock. id like to know what im looking at when i read things like the quantum theory and stuff.

[djeinstine]

that is a Hurculean task sir

[the tree]

There is a monumental amount of notation in calculus (and mathematics in general, really). See the table of mathematical symbols (if there's anything specific there that you need you help with then do ask). There's probably a few physical constants that you're going to run into time over time.

[Bignose]

whats the point of all the symbols and signs that make it all look extraterestrial?

 

Just like all symbols, they are there as a shorthand that virtually everyone has agreed to mean the same thing. This is virtually all symbols you run across: At the very basic you write out letters and combination of letters to 1) represent the sounds that the mouth makes and 2) the combination of letters combine to make words instead of writing out the definition of the word each and every time.

 

Math is the same way. We write [math]\int[/math] instead of "compute the area under the curve". we write [math]\frac{d}{dx}[/math] instead of writing out "compute the rate of change with respect to x"

 

It is no different that learning any other set of symbols. When you learn to drive, you have to learn what the set of symbols that frequently appear on road signs mean. If you learn to fly, there are usually symbols on many of the switches and gauges. If you try to read a technical blueprint, you have to learn what the symbols on the print out mean.

 

Math is no different. As you learn the math, you will learn what the symbols mean. You just have to learn the math.

[cameron marical]

the table of mathmatical symbols and the physical constants were exactly what i was looking for. thanks tree.