I'm in eigth grade and I was just wondering what calculus is, I don't want anything too over the top, I just want an overall summary, please and thank you.
2007-01-08 10:19:41 · 8 answers · asked by Nate 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
Calculus is sort of a broad topic, but it comes down to two basic concepts: derivative and integral. Simply put, a derivative is a function (like y = x + 1) that is used to find the rate at which some quantity changes, such as the change in slope across a curvy function (right now you probably work a lot with lines, which have constant slope, but in high school you'll learn about functions with slopes that change) or the change in the speed of a car over time. There are a bunch of formulas that you learn to calculate the derivative of a function.
An integral is basically undoing a derivate, going back to the original function, so it is sometimes referred to as an antiderivative. Again, you'll learn more formulas and methods for finding these. Integrals can be used to find the area under a curve, the length of a wavy curve, and the volume and surface area of certain solids, among other things.
Overall, though, high school algebra plays a very important role. In almost every problem you'll do, only about 1/3 of it is calculus, and the rest is just simplifying really messy algebra. So the moral of the story is: master algebra now and calculus won't be too hard for you later.
2007-01-08 10:46:37 · answer #1 · answered by lifeaura18 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Calculus is a very hard math class in High School. I think 12th graders take it. Some college students take it.
*Calculus is the study of how things change. It provides a framework for modeling systems in which there is change, and a way to deduce the predictions of such models.
THE LINK BELOW SHOULD REALLY HELP!!!!!
2007-01-08 10:27:18 · answer #2 · answered by Sally 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The beginning part of calculus is mostly rates of change. Think of velocity and acceleration when your parents drive. Things don't always happen in a linear pattern but are more complicated so you need a way to estimate how fast things change for different functions that model different circumstances.
2007-01-08 10:28:57 · answer #3 · answered by Professor Maddie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i might want to assert structure is portion of engineering which means that a good carry close on math is necessary, pre-cal is is like algebra to the subsequent factor with the Pi chart and understanding about radians and attitude measures (which looks significant) yet Calculus is the learn of derivatives, (the slope of a line at a particular factor) style of unnecessary no be counted what container of workd your going to, in case you question me.
2016-12-28 10:24:25 · answer #4 · answered by stolfi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a more extensive type of math that is generally more difficult than most other type of high school math. However, in my opinion, geometry was a lot more difficult that calculus. Good luck!
2007-01-08 10:27:31 · answer #5 · answered by Faith C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The branch of mathematics involving derivatives and integrals. The study of motion in which changing values are studied.
2007-01-08 10:27:32 · answer #6 · answered by Scott G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its a math class for smart people you'll know whats up in high school
2007-01-08 10:39:51 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calculus
2007-01-08 10:26:14 · answer #8 · answered by vejjev 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋