Grandpa Kens Glossary Series

Glossary of Words for Differential Calculus

A Kenamar Videobook

Glossary of Words for Differential Calculus

Written , Narrated and Produced by Kenneth Kunz

Kenamar Corp.

Forward: There are several steps to learning a new subject: 1. Learning the definitions of the special words (jargon.) 2. The concepts and relationships of the elements. 3. Proficiency in applying the concepts to real problems. (Engineering)

This monograph is only concerned with Item 1. It is absolutely necessary to know this material first, or you will forever ]be confused and flustered in your study of this subject.

A glossary or vocabulary is an alphabetical list of words or terms in a particular area of knowledge with the definitions relevant to that area.

The words may mean something entirely different when used in other contexts.

Differential Calculus Differ: From Latin differre "to set apart. A moving object keeps changing its position to a different position. Calculus: From Latin calx chalk or limestone. A Calculus was a pebble used to count or figure out or calculate. Differential Calculus is the figuring out of how things change. For example, things move (change in position) as time moves on (change in time.) The calculus is the study of the relationships of these changes.

Variable A Variable is something that varies. Vary is from Latin verruca "wart. Evidently warts changed over time and thus were a part of the skin that varied. Variables can change inherently, like time, which waits for no one. Such variables are called Independent Variables.

Other variables are called Dependent Variables because they depend on something else. Like my bank account, which depends on the interest rate and how much I spend. Variables which dont vary are called Constants. Latin constare, from com- "together + stare "to stand.
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Naming of variables It is conventional (from Latin com- "together + venire "to come) or general agreement that variables are usually given symbols or letters to denote their values. The letters can refer to their names or not. They should be obvious from the context, or be explicitly defined so that everybody knows who is who.

x, y, and z These are usually independent variables and can refer to : Graph on paper x-across (horizontal) axis y-up (vertical) axis z-in/out axis Map x-east/west y-north/south z-up/down

Naming of variables (continued) Time t -on the horizontal (ordinate) axis; the dependent variable on the vertical axis(abscissa) Ordinate: Latin ordinare order Abscissa: Latin ab+ scindere cut off Time is often called a Parameter. A Parameter is a "measurable factor which helps

a, b, c, d, k, A, B, C, D These are usually constants. m, n, p, q, r, s These are usually dependent variables. f may be a function of many variables f(x) is a function of the variable x; f(x,y) is a function of both x and y; x=f(t) is how x changes with time. m is often used for the slope; m(x,y)

Function A function is a relation between a set of inputs and a set of outputs with the property that each input is related to exactly one output. The generic function is called f. Other letters used are g,u,v,w.

Example: The rule f(x) = x2, which relates an input x to its square, (read "f of x equal x squared") The output of the function f corresponding to an input x is denoted by f(x) . If the input is 3, then the output is 9, and we may write f(3) = 9.

Analytic Function Analytic functions are those that can be expressed by terms using powers of the variables. Such functions can be plotted as smooth curves without gaps or sharp corners. Analytic: From Greek: analytos "dissolved" analysis: resolution of anything complex into simple elements.
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A square is not represented by an analytic function, because we dont know how to represent the corners. A dashed line is non-analytic.

Example of the graph of a function Here is a graph of the function: y = f(x) = x - 9x x being the dependent variable is on the horizontal axis (ordinate.) y being the dependent variable is on the vertical axis (abscissa.) Here the numerical values of x and y are given

We dont know if the units should be feet, seconds or what. Probably not pounds, since there are negative http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d1/Cubicpoly.png numbers.
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Graph of a Function Graph: from Latin graphicus drawing, picturesque. It could be the path of a finger in the sand.

Tangent line

Graph of a Function

http://www.leosoderman.com/wpcontent/uploads/2011/08/Drawing-A-Line-In-The-SandWM900800x532.jpg

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Graph of a Function Graph: from Latin graphicus drawing, picturesque. The graph of this function is a picture representation of how y varies with the changes of x.

Tangent line

(0,0 Ordinate ) f(x,y) (x)

By convention, Ordinate: Latin ordinare order the independent variable is x, Abscissa: Latin ab+ scindere cut and the dependent variable is off y. t -on the horizontal (ordinate) axis
the dependent variable on the vertical axis(abscissa)
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Tangent The tangent line (or simply the tangent) to a curve at a given point is the straight line that "just touches" the curve at that point. It is a continuation (in both directions) of the curve at that point. It just doesnt curve.

Tangent line

f(x,y) (0,0 Ordinate ) (x) Ordinate: Latin ordinare order Abscissa: Latin ab+ scindere cut off
Time graphs: t is on the horizontal (ordinate) axis, and the dependent variable is on the vertical axis (abscissa.)

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Difference A variable changes from one to another condition. The change in condition from the original to the new is called the Difference. The large letter is used for a change which is large. It is represented by the Greek capital letter Delta , for D (difference.) For changes which are infinitely small, the small letter d is used.

This is read as: m equals the change in y divided by the change in x equals delta y over delta x.

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Derivative The change in y is just the difference between its state at instance 2 and its state at instance 1: y(2) y(1) or y the change in x at for the same instances is: x(2) x(1) or x Now if the change keeps getting smaller and smaller until the ratio y/x seems to stay the same, we call this the infinitesimal limit and change the nomenclature to dy/dx and give the ratio a name: the derivative .

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Partial Derivative If y depends on more than just x, then we call it: the partial derivative with respect to x: y/x using the small Greek letter for . We calculate this value by treating all the other variables as invariables or constants with their current values.

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Square and Quadratic Square: Latin ex- "out + quattuor "four. The idea is that a square has four sides. Quadratic equations got that name in 1660, because they involve the square of x. X times X or X (read xsquared)
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The famous quadratic equation: f(x) = a x + bx + c a, b, c are constants.

Quadratic function We can plot the function and make a graph as an example. Plot: Originally it meant small piece of ground. In mathematics, it means to make a map or diagram. So here is the burial plot of our famous function!
RIP Beloved Quaddie

f(x)

Plotting the quadratic equation: y = f(x) = a x + bx + c a = 1, b = -1, c = -2

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is

Discriminant Discriminant is a French word meaning discriminating. From Latin: dis- "off, away" + cernere "distinguish, separate The discriminant is unique The quadratic for every quadratic equation: equation. f(x) = a x + bx + c has the discriminant: = b - 4ac
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The cubic equation (degree 3) has the discriminant:

It really gets complicated after that! A quartic (degree 4) has 16 terms, and the 6th degree has 246 terms.

Polynomial Poly-many + nomialnumber A mon-nomial has one term such as: x 4y +3 A binomial has two terms such as: x+y 3az + 2w + 8 Constants dont count!

Degree of a Polynomial The degree of a term is determined by the number of times the variables are multiplied together. 7xyz, x, 32Axy are all of degree 3. The degree of a polynomial is the highest degree of any of its terms.

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Maximum, Minimum and Inflection Point A maximum is like standing on the top of a hill, where every direction you look is down. It is a local maximum if there are other higher hills. If you are on top of the highest hill, then we call it a global maximum.
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Same thing with minima, only you are in a valley. An inflection point, is like you are standing on a flat ledge, where it is down one way and up the other way.

Gradient From Latin gradientem, prp. of gradi "to walk. Refers to the slope of a hill where you either step up or down. Often expressed as: m = dy/dx. Related to Degree From Latin de- "down + gradus "step" Take little steps such as those marked out on a thermometer.

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Its really not that complicated.

Youve dealt with speed, s = dx/dt, and acceleration, a = ds/dt.

You've been walking up and down hills- thats differentials in height. In fact if you walk north you get one slope and if you walk east, you get another slope. Well, thats partial differentials.

All differential calculus is , is to organize the thoughts so you can put numbers to it and make things do what you want. Its just an analytic ski park! Have fun!
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