What is Calculus: Definition and 1000 Discussions

Calculus, originally called infinitesimal calculus or "the calculus of infinitesimals", is the mathematical study of continuous change, in the same way that geometry is the study of shape and algebra is the study of generalizations of arithmetic operations.
It has two major branches, differential calculus and integral calculus; the former concerns instantaneous rates of change, and the slopes of curves, while integral calculus concerns accumulation of quantities, and areas under or between curves. These two branches are related to each other by the fundamental theorem of calculus, and they make use of the fundamental notions of convergence of infinite sequences and infinite series to a well-defined limit.Infinitesimal calculus was developed independently in the late 17th century by Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz. Today, calculus has widespread uses in science, engineering, and economics.In mathematics education, calculus denotes courses of elementary mathematical analysis, which are mainly devoted to the study of functions and limits. The word calculus (plural calculi) is a Latin word, meaning originally "small pebble" (this meaning is kept in medicine – see Calculus (medicine)). Because such pebbles were used for counting (or measuring) a distance travelled by transportation devices in use in ancient Rome, the meaning of the word has evolved and today usually means a method of computation. It is therefore used for naming specific methods of calculation and related theories, such as propositional calculus, Ricci calculus, calculus of variations, lambda calculus, and process calculus.

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  1. E

    B Attempt to solve this system of three linear equations

    The point (1, 5) is on the curve: y=ax^2+bx+c. This point gives the linear equation: 5 = a + b + c. A second point on the curve, (2, 10) gives the linear equation 10=4a+2b+c. A student called Erika thinks that the point (2, 19) is also on the curve. 5 = a + b + c. 10=4a+2b+c 19=4a+2b+c the...
  2. benorin

    Calculus An interesting read: "Project Gutenberg EBook of Calculus Made Easy"

    This is a good book to read, free pdf version. Don’t judge the book by it’s cover. Read section 1, and 2, see if you learn something you weren’t expecting ~.^ This is the above link’s target: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/33283/33283-pdf.pdf Enjoy!
  3. malawi_glenn

    Other Collection of Free Online Math Books and Lecture Notes (part 1)

    School starts soon, and I know students are looking to get their textbooks at bargain prices 🤑 Inspired by this thread I thought that I could share some of my findings of 100% legally free textbooks and lecture notes in mathematics and mathematical physics (mostly focused on geometry) (some of...
  4. Z

    I Spivak, Ch. 20: Understanding a step in the proof of lemma

    In Chapter 20 of Spivak's Calculus is the lemma shown below (used afterward to prove Taylor's Theorem). My question is about a step in the proof of this lemma. Here is the proof as it appears in the book My question is: how do we know that ##(R')^{n+1}## is defined in ##(2)##? Let me try to...
  5. Manuel Cardoso

    Calculus book for 14 year old physics enthusiast

    Hello, I'm trying to learn calculus, what books would you recommend? For a beginner.
  6. N

    Calculus Comparing "Calculus" and "Early Transcendentals" Textbooks for MST124

    I'm going to be starting my first Mathematics module (MST124 - Essential Mathematics I, at the Open University) and I have been looking or a Calculus textbook to use as a supplementary text. I've found a couple of textbooks that I like the look of (Stewart's and Larson's), which both come in...
  7. E

    I Solving the Boat Crossing a River Problem using the Calculus of Variations

    I was hoping to explore the Calculus of Variations. How do we prove by Calculus of Variations that the minimum time for boat crossing a river (perpendicular to the current for starters) with current ##v_r##, and boat velocity in still water ##v_b## that the path will be a straight line? I...
  8. T

    What are the two different senses of since and how are they used?

    Summary: Hello! I'm an high school student and i want to study more math but I'm not sure where to start. Should i first study linear algebra or calculus? Hello! I'm an high school student and i want to study more math but I'm not sure where to start. Should i first study linear algebra or...
  9. D

    MHB Free Math Tutoring Videos Focusing on Math Olympiad, Calculus, and High School Math

    Dear members in this nice community, Let me introduce myself first. My name is Derek Liang, and I am from Canada. I hold a bachelor degree in math education, a PhD in math from China and a PhD in applied math from Canada. I have more than twenty years of experience teaching and tutoring math at...
  10. junyoung

    I Open interval or Closed interval in defining convex function

    The Korean textbook standard defines the convexity of the function as an open section. Many textbooks and university calculus textbooks define the convexity of the curve as an open section. However, some textbooks define convexity as closed sections. Do you think it is right to define the...
  11. TGV320

    Calculus Textbooks for calculus learning

    Hi, I am going to be a 1st year college student in China this fall. I have a lot of interest for calculus and math in general, and I am wondering if the books I have in hand are good for self study. High school math here stopped the at the derivatives, didn't went further. The two books I...
  12. stivodivo

    First time taking Calculus 1 and I only got a B

    I tried very hard studying calculus before my semester started. I self-taught myself for months and realized that I was actually good at it. I felt very confident, so I decided to take a online summer class. This was my first calculus class ever. Rather than a 15 week semester, the class is only...
  13. brotherbobby

    Finding Area of Shaded Segment in Circle Using Calculus

    Problem Statement : To find the area of the shaded segment filled in red in the circle shown to the right. The region is marked by the points PQRP. Attempt 1 (without calculus): I mark some relevant lengths inside the circle, shown left. Clearly OS = 9 cm and SP = 12 cm using the Pythagorean...
  14. bigmike94

    James Stewart Calculus replacement

    Summary: Need a multivariable calculus textbook For calculus I’ve been using James Stewart textbook as a guide, I find it really hard to follow so I just checkout the chapter titles and then use online courses that explain the chapters, for example professor Leonard and Michel Van biezen...
  15. S

    MHB Are the inference rules of propositional calculus tautologies?

    Are the inference rules of propositional calculus tautologies ,yes or no
  16. G

    What Is the Optimal Angle Theta to Minimize Journey Time in Calculus?

    Summary: Trying to differentiate with respect to ## \theta ## is entangling me in cos and sec terms. A simple problem I found, while looking for calculus practice. Roads between home and main road are 30 mph, main road is 60mph: What is the optimum ## \theta ## to minimise journey time? ## t...
  17. topsquark

    MHB Chain Rule in Difference Calculus

    I'm having some problems using the chain rule and I'm not sure where the trouble lies. For example: If I'm not mistaken, if we have the composite function f(g(n)) then \Delta f(g(n)) = \dfrac{ \Delta f(g) }{ \Delta g } \dfrac{ \Delta g(n) }{ \Delta n } Let f(g(n)) = (n^2)^2. Then f(g) = g^2...
  18. N

    The connection between potential energy and force

    Hi, if the force is the derivative of potential energy, does it mean that the force is equal to mg and with a constant gravity, it will be the same at any height? But in real life, F (or mg) would be different on the Earth's surface and 400 km above it (~8 m/s^2). So, this formula is used to...
  19. Alexanddros81

    I I want to know which software was used to create vector calculus graph

    Hi. I have the Marsden an Tromba vector calculus book 6th edition. I was wondering which software was used to create the books graphs. I attach two graphs as an example. Thanks
  20. T

    I Need Calculus Book Recommendations please

    Summary:: What calculus books do you recommend? Does Thomas Calculus include all the calculus topics? Hi! I'm a 10th grader and preparing for physics olympiads. I'm planning to learn calculus this summer, i self learned prior required topics before calculus (trigonometry, logarithm etc.) ...
  21. M

    Engineering First order non linear to state space equations

    How to represent this system in state space form? where: $$ x' = Ax + Bu \text{ and }y = Cx + Du$$ I am trying to create a state space model based on these equations on simulink, need to find A, B, C and D but like I mentioned, i cannot find the solution when the differentials are not of...
  22. WMDhamnekar

    MHB Maxima and Minima (vector calculus)

    Hi, Hi, Author said If we look at the graph of $ f (x, y)= (x^2 +y^2)*e^{-(x^2+y^2)},$ as shown in the following Figure it looks like we might have a local maximum for (x, y) on the unit circle $ x^2 + y^2 = 1.$ But when I read this graph, I couldn't guess that the stated function have a...
  23. WMDhamnekar

    MHB Maxima and Minima in calculus

    Question: Prove that the radius of the right circular cylinder of greatest curved surface area which can be inscribed in a given cone is half of that of the cone. Answer: Let r and h be the radius and height of the right circular cylinder inscribed in a given cone of radius R and height H. Let...
  24. mcastillo356

    B Why do I not understand what seems to be basic Calculus?

    Hi PF, stucked with this proof: Taylor's Formula The following theorem provides a formula for the error in a Taylor approximation ##f(x)\approx{P_{n} (x)}## similar to that provided for linear approximation (...) Taylor's Theorem If the ##(n+1)##st-order derivative, ##f^{(n+1)} (t)##, exists...
  25. F

    I Time derivatives in variational calculus

    Taking the variation w.r.t f(x) of the integral over some x domain of F[f(x), f'(x), df(x)/dt], why doesn't df(x)/dt need to be taken a variational derivative and is treated as if it were constant?
  26. rstor

    I Keisler Elementary Calculus: computing standard parts of expressions

    In Keisler Elementary Calculus page 39, example 4 it shows how to compute the standard parts of the following expression: Example 4: If ##\epsilon## is infinitesimal but non zero, find the standard part of ##b=\frac {\epsilon} {5-\sqrt{25+ε}}## Before calculating the standard parts the...
  27. MichaelBack12

    Calculus Hubbard’s vector calculus text

    Anyone know of an online course or set of video lectures on John Hubbard's textbook on Vector Calculus, Linear Algebra, and Differential Forms?
  28. chwala

    Calculate the area of the triangle- Vector Calculus

    This is the question, Now to my question, supposing the vectors were not given, can we let ##V=\vec {RQ}## and ##W=\vec {RP}##? i tried using this and i was not getting the required area. Thanks...
  29. F

    Calculus Revisiting Single-Variable Calculus after Multi-

    Hello all! I was thinking about strengthening my knowledge of Calculus after I finish the course I am taking in Multivariable Calculus. I am in a particularly unique situation, as I am only going to enter high school next year. I took the AP Calculus BC Exam last year and got a 5. The course I...
  30. H

    Show that ##\int \frac{d\vec{a}}{d} = \frac{4}{3}\pi \vec{r}##

    Hey! I have to show that the integral of the area of a sphere ##\int \frac{d\vec{a}}{d} = \frac{4}{3}\pi \vec{r}##, with ##d = |\vec{r} - \vec{R}|## and ##\vec{r} = r \hat{z}## This is what I did. ##d\vec{a} = R^2sin\theta d\theta d\phi \hat{r}##, ##\hat{r} = sin \theta cos \phi \hat{x} + sin...
  31. OscarV

    Calculus Should I read Spivak's Calculus as an undergrad in theoretical physics?

    I am about to start a physics with theoretical physics major, I've taken calculus before but I've not been satisfied with the "memorization of formulas" type books. I started to read Spivak and found it enjoyable, but since it's a major undertaking I am also concerned for the practical value...
  32. D

    I Geometric Point of View of sets

    A set is nothing more than a collection. To determine whether or not an object belongs to the set , we test it against one or more conditions. If it satisfies these conditions then it belongs to the set, otherwise it doesn't. The geometric point of view of sets- a set can be viewed as being...
  33. Z

    Spivak, Ch 5 Limits, Problems 10c: Proving limit relationship

    c) Why is the assertion ##\lim\limits_{x \to 0} f(x) = \lim\limits_{x \to 0} f(x^3)## obvious? First of all I don't think it is obvious but here is an explanation of why the limits are the same. ##\lim\limits_{x\to0} f(x^3)=l_2## means we are looking at points with ##x## close to zero and...
  34. Z

    Very tricky problem from Spivak's Calculus, Ch. 4 & 5: Graphs/Limits

    I believe the x-axis is vertical here. The graph is composed of i) an infinite number of intervals that start on the ##y=x## line and finish at some ##x## with a decimal expansion ending in ##7\bar{9}##. E.g., from ##0.67## to ##0.67\bar{9}## which is considered ##0.68##. Other examples of...
  35. Z

    Spivak, Ch. 5 Limits, Problem 3 viii: Prove a limit of a function

    Consider item ##vii##, which specifies the function ##f(x)=\sqrt{|x|}## with ##a=0## Case 1: ##\forall \epsilon: 0<\epsilon<1## $$\implies \epsilon^2<\epsilon<1$$ $$|x|<\epsilon^2\implies \sqrt{|x|}<\epsilon$$ Case 2: ##\forall \epsilon: 1\leq \epsilon < \infty## $$\epsilon\leq\epsilon^2...
  36. P

    A Need some clarifications on tensor calculus please

    I've started reading up on tensors. Since this lies well outside my usual area, I need some clarifications on some tensor calculus issues. Let ##A## be a tensor of order ##j > 1##. Suppose that the tensor is cubical, i.e., every mode is of the same size. So for example, if ##A## is of order 3...
  37. T

    A Euler Lagrange and the Calculus of Variations

    Good Morning all Yesterday, as I was trying to formulate my confusion properly, I had a series of posts as I circled around the issue. I can now state it clearly: something is wrong :-) and I am so confused :-( Here is the issue: I formulate the Lagrangian for a simple mechanical system...
  38. S

    Schools Calculus vs Calculus for Engineers (The community college only has the former)

    I'm doing 2 years at a community college before transferring to a university for the last 2 years to become a Civil engineer. I was looking at the courses at the university, granted these are for all 8 semesters not simply post transfer courses. One thing I saw was that the 3 calculus classes...
  39. Darsh_22

    How do I sketch a flow profile and solve for curl in vector calculus?

    Hello, Can someone explain how to sketch the flow profile in detail. Also, I solved for curl, but I'm getting a zero while the answer is the differentiation of the function f(y). Pls do help me out!
  40. S

    MHB Solve Calculus Problem: Answers to d, e, f in Math Paper

    Please Solve this, I am unable. This problem requires you to read the following scientific article: http://math.colgate.edu/~integers/u76/u76.pdf These answers should be related to this paper. Questions are attached in the image; please answer mainly d, e and f Those are the main problems I...
  41. A

    Calculus Advanced Calculus with Applications in Statistics

    Is someone has already heard about this book wrote by Andre I. Khuri (Professor emeritus in science at university of Florida) ? By the table of contents the book seems to cover a lot of things in calculus/multivariable calculus and in a rigourous way according to the preface (they argue that...
  42. hackedagainanda

    Intro Math Introductory Probability without Calculus

    Are there any good introductory texts aimed at students with only a working knowledge of High School Algebra? I currently have: Probability: An Introduction by Samuel Goldberg I do plan on eventually learning Calculus, but I would like to start learning probability sooner.
  43. jorgeluisharo

    Vector calculus — Computing this Divergence

    I really don't know how to proceed if I'm not using an specific coordinate system, Is there a way of doing this using only indices, in general form?
  44. Mr.Husky

    Calculus Just got Courant's calculus text -- Need some tips to work through it

    Hi everyone! I just bought the courant John calculus volume-1 from uni bookstore. I need some tips like errors, topics which are not explained well and topics which are really important and need to focus more on etc.. My background:- have Spivak as a supplement. Knows how to prove and read...
  45. M

    MHB Relation Algebra - Relational Calculus

    Hey! :giggle: Give for the following expressions of relation algebra the equivalent expression in relational calculus. 1. $\sigma_{B=A}(R(A,B,C))$ 2. $\pi_{B,C}(R(A,B,C))$ 3. $R(A,B,C)\cup S(A,B,C)$ 4. $R(A,B,C)\cap S(A,B,C)$ 5. $R(A,B,C)\setminus S(A,B,C)$ 6. $R(A,B,C)\times S(D,C,E)$ 7...
  46. Haorong Wu

    Classical Looking for simple materials for calculus of variations

    Hi, there. I have not systematically learned the calculus of variations. I would like to learn it now. Are there simple materials for the purpose of learning how to do the calculation in physics? No need for deeper consideration in mathematics. Is Mathematical methods for physicists by Arfken...
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