Calculus: a branch of mathematics dealing with the way that relations between some sets functions are affected

by very small changes in one of their variables independent variables as they (that independent variable) approach zero. Discovered independently by Sir Isaac Newton (the apple/gravity man called it fluxions), and Gottfried Leibnitz. Fluxions would later be called the derivative, taking the derivative or derivation, and Leibnitz Fundamental Theorem of Calculus the integral or integration. You can see: Calculus as a name is way cooler! Problem:

This is ugly, isnt it? For the sake of sheer torture, Id ask a class what is the slope of this graph/equation? Howd you calculate it? Well, slope if you remember high school algebra is simply slope (m) = rise/run, or:

Additionally, draw a line:

Observations: 1. Slope is positive (reasonable) 2. My y values are easily readable, but my xs are going to be very, very small (your graph would have to be more detailed to get any values). Revisit the definition: Calculus: a branch of mathematics dealing with the way that relations between some sets functions are affected by very small changes in one of their variables independent variables as they (that independent variable) approach zero. Lets define these very small changes in x by a variable: x is read delta x. (You could call it anything; h is another convention or Fred if youre consistent!) Delta is a shorthand way of representing a change, usually a very small change between the values of the same variable, for example: x = x2 x1. Now, the equation for this monstrosity: ( ) Your dependent variable is always the function: in this case f(n); your independent variable is n.

As a review: a dependent variable is one whose value changes with respect to the independent variable, whose value you can arbitrarily assign. In table form:
n 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 0.9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 f(n) = 2 - (1/n) -8 -3 -0.5 0.333333333 0.75 0.888888889 1 1.5 1.666666667 1.75 1.8 1.833333333 1.857142857 1.875 1.888888889 1.9 1.909090909 1.916666667

Now, Im going to get really lazy:

That yields a slope of 0.02, all good, right? But, if I do this:

Well, 0.011111111 is completely different! Both cant be right: right? The reason our slope formula doesnt work is: it works for functions traveling in straight lines, and especially functions of the y = mx + b variety (Ah, the simpler days!).

This problem is like a particle: atomic decay or pollen dust its not traveling in a straight line, so straight-line logic/math aint gonna work here! (Forgive me, Mrs. Williamson, Atkins High School English teacher). Plus this graph would have to get plenty LARGE to get values where a real slope of this line could be calculated, or make sense in the real world. One mo gin: Calculus: a branch of mathematics dealing with the way that relations between some sets functions are affected by very small changes in one of their variables independent variables as they (that independent variable) approach zero. Lets define these very small changes in x by a variable: x is read delta x. Question: where is your function approaching zero?

If you look at your table, it can get plenty small, but the value of the independent variable n never quite gets close to zero, does it? Heres what happens if I just plugged in zero: ( ) And, your graph wouldnt look as pretty, either! Houston: we have a problem! Enter, Sir Isaac Newton

( ) Dont panic! Hang with me

Were going to take the LIMIT of the function as its small change approaches zero. The key is, were not going to LET it approach zero until were absolutely ready for it to! In terms of x (the general form youll see it in): ( ) ( )

In words, the formula reads: The limit of the function of x plus delta x (x, or very, very small changes in x) minus the function of x, divided by x as x approaches zero. When I first saw this, I called it fluxions and a few other choice colorful metaphors! (If you say fluxions hard enough, it sounds dirty!) Anyway: 1. Here, let x = n: ( ) ( )

2. Now, the math-hip street vernacular is plug-and-chug: ( 3. Lets deal with the numerator: () 4. Now, combine the two fractions: ( ) )

5. Numerator is now: ( ) ( ) ( )

6. Divide Numerator by the Denominator (long so far, isnt it?):

( )

) ( ) ( )

7. As Etta James would say: At Last

( )

Wow: all that for this thing; and what does it mean!? Well, in your y = mx + b simpler days, this is the slope of the function, or the rate of very, very small (instantaneous) change of the function.

Note the limit argument: ( ) ( )

See that: y2 y1 = f(x + x) f (x) and x = x2 x1. When you take the limit, its also the derivative of the function! Now, after all that, the 1st derivative of the function of x: ( ) Now, lets use that LAST part of the formula on our monstrosity: ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

Now, say it with me: FLUXIONS!!!!!!!!!!!! One line versus six pages: WAY cooler! Homework: same problem, let x = Fred. Thought I forgot, didnt you?