Question #25506

Calculus is a branch of mathematics where you examine infinitesimal changes in values that can be accumulated to describe curves, surfaces, functions, and so on in a well-defined manner. It will ask you to be creative, find patterns, and really grasp the big picture, recurring definitions.

You'll probably encounter things like these:

1st year:
- Finding the change in the slope of a function at every point on the function within a specific domain
- The relationship between position, velocity, acceleration and jerk
- Finding the area between a curve and certain coordinate axes
- Various Theorems
- Finding the volume of oddly shaped cones and other "solids of revolution".

2nd year and on:
- Finding the volume of oddly shaped cones and other "solids of revolution".
- Finding the volume of donuts and other "shells".
- History of #ln# and #e#
- Representing #e^x# exactly, using only #ax^n + bx^(n+1) + ...#
- Thinking about multiple dimensions
- Working in coordinates other than #x,y,z#

But especially, you'll see these symbols:

1st year (first half):
#(dy)/(dx)# or #f'(x)#
#(d^2y)/(dx^2)# or #f''(x)#

1st year (second half) and 2nd year:
#sumf(x)Deltax#
#intf(x)dx#
#(dy)/(dx)# or #f'(x)#
#(d^2y)/(dx^2)# or #f''(x)#

3rd year:
#(delf)/(delx) = (delf)/(dely)*(dely)/(delx)#
#grad = (delf)/(delx) + (delf)/(dely) + (delf)/(delz)#
#grad^2 = (del^2f)/(delx^2) + (del^2f)/(dely^2) + (del^2f)/(delz^2)#

Really though, it isn't so bad if you're interested. Just don't goof around too much and you'll be fine.