Integration/Differentiation of Formulas

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concepts of integration and differentiation in calculus, particularly in relation to geometric shapes like spheres and their properties. Participants explore the relationships between surface area, volume, and other mathematical functions, as well as the definitions of velocity, acceleration, and related concepts in physics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that integrating the surface area of a sphere yields its volume, questioning why further integration of the volume does not produce additional useful results.
  • Another participant suggests that to derive useful results from integrating a volume, one might need to consider higher-dimensional shapes.
  • A humorous remark is made about the complexities of working in four dimensions.
  • There is a discussion about the relationship between surface area and volume, with a participant questioning the meaning of a theoretical higher exponent dimension in this context.
  • One participant inquires about the nature of derivatives, specifically why position is a function of time and how this relates to velocity, acceleration, jerk, and jounce.
  • Another participant provides definitions for velocity and acceleration, emphasizing their relationship as derivatives of position and velocity, respectively.
  • A further inquiry is made into the nature of acceleration and jerk, with a clarification that both are functions of time.
  • One participant seeks to understand the relationship between circumference and area, asking for the foundational formula that relates them.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various viewpoints regarding the relationships between integration, differentiation, and geometric properties. There is no consensus on the necessity of higher dimensions for integration, and definitions of velocity and acceleration are discussed with some disagreement on their interrelations.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the definitions and relationships between the mathematical concepts discussed, particularly regarding the integration of arbitrary functions and the foundational formulas for circumference and area.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in calculus, geometry, and physics, particularly those exploring the relationships between different mathematical functions and their applications in understanding motion and geometric properties.

Periapsis
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So I am new to calculus, and have been playing around with integration and differentiation. I have learned that integrating and deriving formulas, you get other formulas that can be used, like integrating surface area of a sphere to get volume. I was wondering why this is, and what limits you from continuing to integrate on and on. For example, you can integrate the surface area of a sphere, but integrating the volume of a sphere doesn't get you anything.
 
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For the sphere - ball relationship, the key is that if you slice up a ball into spheres of constant radius, then each spherical slice has volume (surface area)*(delta r) and adding all of those up gives the volume of the ball. To integrate the ball's volume and get something useful you need to have a four dimensional shape which can be sliced up into a bunch of three dimensional balls.
 
I was slicing up a 4 dimensional orange with my high-tech 4 dimensional knife and accidentally cut 4 fingers at once. 4D is tricky. :smile:
 
@Office_Shredder
So to integrate anything, you need a theoretical higher exponent type dimension? Then why can you take a two dimensional surface area and integrate it to find the volume? V = ∫ f(r) 4πr2 dr right? Integrating that would result in a cubed radius?
 
Periapsis said:
theoretical higher exponent type dimension?

I have no idea what these words in succession mean.

Then why can you take a two dimensional surface area and integrate it to find the volume? V = ∫ f(r) 4πr2 dr right? Integrating that would result in a cubed radius?

You can take a two dimensional surface area and integrate it to find the volume, in the sense that you can integrate the surface area of a sphere to get the volume of a ball. I don't know what your function f(r) is supposed to be here - if it's completely arbitrary, then you're just integrating an arbitrary function.
 
So let's take position for example, a function of time. s(t). Why is it that when you take the derivative of position, you get velocity, and from there, acceleration, jerk, and jounce? Why does it start with a function of time?
 
What are your definitions of velocity and acceleration and jerk and jounce? Velocity is typically defined as the instantaneous change in position as a function of time, which is the definition of the derivative. Acceleration is the instantaneous change in velocity as a function of time, which is again a derivative by definition.

If you have a different definition then we can work through how one is a derivative of another.
 
I suppose what I'm really trying to ask, why is position, a function of time. and why is velocity, a function of position? why is acceleration a function of velocity? and why is jerk a function of acceleration?
 
Acceleration is not a function of velocity, it's also a function of time (in the typical physics setup). Jerk is a function of time as well. If s(t) is position, v(t) velocity, a(t) acceleration and j(t) jerk, we have
s'(t) = v(t)
s''(t) = v'(t) = a(t)
s'''(t) = v''(t) = a'(t) = j(t)
 
  • #10
Okay, now I understand that, thanks. But now what about using that same principal to solve for anything? What is circumference a function of? I learned the integral of the circumference, is the area. But what is the beginning formula?
 
  • #11
Periapsis said:
Okay, now I understand that, thanks. But now what about using that same principal to solve for anything? What is circumference a function of?

C=2πr. So the only candidate is radius.
 

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