# Math FAQs

Here contains the collection of Insight math FAQs. These are commonly asked questions and misconceptions that inside are corrected and answered. Disciplines from algebra to advanced calculus with the student in mind. Learn something new today!

### How to Find Potential Functions? A 10 Minute Introduction

/
Definition/Summary Given a vector field ##\vec F(x,y,z)## that has a potential function, how do you find it? Equations $$\nabla \phi(x,y,z) = \vec F(x,y,z)$$…

### What is a Linear Equation? A 5 Minute Introduction

/
Definition/Summary A first-order polynomial equation in one variable, its general form is $Mx+B=0$ where x is the variable. The quantities…

### What are Significant Figures? A 5 Minute Introduction

/
Definition/Summary Significant figures (commonly called "sig figs") are the number of figures (digits) included when rounding-off a number.For example,…

### What is a Fibre Bundle? A 5 Minute Introduction

/
Definition/Summary Intuitively speaking, a fibre bundle is space E which 'locally looks like' a product space B×F, but globally may have a different…

### What is a Real Number? A 5 Minute Introduction

/
Definition/Summary The real numbers are the most commonly encountered number system, familiar to the layman via the number line, and as the number system…

### What is Integration By Parts? A 5 Minute Introduction

/
Definition/Summary In this article, we shall learn a method for integrating the product of two functions. This method is derived from the 'product rule'…

### What is a Parabola? A 5 Minute Introduction

/
Definition/Summary A parabola has many definitions, a classical one being, "A Parabola is the locus of all points equidistant from a given point (called…

### What Is a Limit of a Function? A 5 Minute Introduction

/
Definition/Summary Limits are a mathematical tool that is used to define the 'limiting value' of a function i.e. the value a function seems to approach…

### What is Lie algebra? A 5 Minute Introduction

/
Definition/Summary A Lie algebra ("Lee") is a set of generators of a Lie group. It is a basis of the tangent space around a Lie group's identity element,…

### What is a Tangent Line? A 5 Minute Introduction

/
Definition/Summary The tangent to a curve in a plane at a particular point has the same Gradient as the curve has at that point.More generally, the…

### What Is a Tensor in Mathematics?

/
Let me start with a counter-question. What is a number? Before you laugh, there is more to this question than one might think. A number can be something…

### Why Do People Say That 1 And .999 Are Equal?

/
Why do people say 1 and 0.999... are equal? Aren't they two different numbers?No, they really are the same number, though this is often very counterintuitive…

### What Proofs are in Mathematics and Why Bother?

/
This FAQ is about proofs. Proofs are central to mathematics, and writing proofs is for many people a skill that is hard to master. There are actually two…

### The History and Concept of the Number 0

/
The goal of this FAQ is to clear up the concept of 0 and specifically the operations that are allowed with 0.The best way to start this FAQ is to look…