Feynman's High School Calculus Book

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SUMMARY

Feynman learned calculus in high school using "Calculus for the Practical Man" by Thompson, which he supplemented with detailed handwritten notes. The discussion highlights the importance of personal engagement in STEM fields, suggesting that passion for a subject outweighs the pursuit of lucrative fields. Participants express concern over the overwhelming volume of STEM resources available today and ponder the future of inspiration in education. The conversation also emphasizes the enduring relevance of applied physics, particularly in areas like nuclear reactors.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic calculus concepts
  • Familiarity with Richard Feynman's educational background
  • Knowledge of Thompson's "Calculus for the Practical Man"
  • Awareness of current trends in STEM education
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore Richard Feynman's interviews and lectures for insights on learning and inspiration
  • Read "Calculus for the Practical Man" by Thompson to understand its approach to teaching calculus
  • Investigate the impact of modern educational resources on student engagement in STEM
  • Research the applications of nuclear physics in contemporary technology
USEFUL FOR

Students, educators, and professionals in STEM fields, particularly those interested in effective learning strategies and the historical context of mathematical education.

Aufbauwerk 2045
Hi everybody. I enjoy looking at other people's handwritten notebooks, as well as what textbooks they learned math and physics from. This evening I came across this article about how Feynman learned calculus in high school by studying Calculus for the Practical Man by Thompson. He kept very detailed notes. I discovered Thompson's books on math some time ago and I thought they were all interesting, in particular the one on calculus. Enjoy the article.

http://physicstoday.scitation.org/do/10.1063/PT.5.9099/full/
 
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Thanks for sharing. It’s a nice article on Feynman. One wonders with the access students have today to all things STEM of how they will be inspired or will the sheer volume of resources simply overwhelm them. Where is the next Feynman?
 
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jedishrfu said:
Thanks for sharing. It’s a nice article on Feynman. One wonders with the access students have today to all things STEM of how they will be inspired or will the sheer volume of resources simply overwhelm them. Where is the next Feynman?

Indeed, sometimes we may have so many choices that we don't know what to do. I finally realized that as long as I'm in STEM, the main thing for me is to forget about what field is most lucrative and just focus on what I like the most. In any case, I can't do very well in a subject if my heart is not in it.

I also highly recommend following the links provided to the Feynman interviews which may be found at

https://www.aip.org/history-program...077.487000824.1511233896-165223326.1511233896
 
P.S. I'm not concerned about the "is physics dead" question because my favorite area, which is nuclear reactors, is not going anywhere! Perhaps some would say that's "only" applied physics but that doesn't worry me. :)
 

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