What is Calculus?

1
What is Calculus?

• Mr. Curran

2
What is Calculus?

• My best day in Calc 1 at USC was the day I had
  to cut class to get a root canal.
• Mary Johnson, USC

I keep having this recurring dream where my
calculus professor is coming after me with an
axe. Tom Franklin, Colorado College
3

• Calculus is fun, and its so easy. I dont get
  what all the fuss is about.
• Sam Einstein, Alberts great grandson

4
When am I ever going to use this?

• You are the first person to ever ask that
  question
• seriously you are
• really
• no one ever thought to ask that
• thats a good point, lets not do this section
• what gave you insight that this was not useful
• Lame.

5
When am I ever going to use this?
There is a strong feeling that since there are
many uses for mathematics, the study of
mathematics needs to be justified in terms of its
usefulness.
6
When am I ever going to use this?
One of the biggest road blocks to success in
mathematics is the time wasted trying to justify
its usefulness.
7
When am I ever going to use this?
The mathematics classroom is not job training,
its brain training. Mathematics is part of your
intellectual equipment. The logical discipline
of mathematics is what teaches you to THINK.
8
What is Calculus?

• Calculus is the language of engineers,
  scientists, and economists.
• The work of these egg heads has a huge impact
  on your day-to-day life.
• Just to name a few Cell phones, HD TV, cars,
  medications, computers, microwaves, the workings
  of our economy, and our national defense are all
  affected by calculus.

9
So What is Calculus Already?

• Calculus is the mathematics of change.
• Calculus is advanced algebra and geometry.
• Calculus takes the ordinary rules of algebra and
  geometry and tweaks them so that they can be used
  on more complicated problems.

10
Regular Math vs Calculus
11
Calculus Not just for Egg Heads

• Calculus is achievable. If youve made it
  through algebra, geometry, and trig, then
  calculus is simply the next step.
• Those who think they can and those who think
  they cant are usually right.