Calculus Made Easy for Beginners

CHAPTER I. CALCULUS MADE EASY TO DELIVER YOU FROM THE PRELIMINARY TERRORS. The preliminary terror, which chokes off most fifth-form boys from even attempting to learn how to calculate, can be abolished once for all by simply stating what is the meaning—in common-sense terms—of the two principal symbols that are used in calculating. These dreadful symbols are: (1) d which merely means “a little bit of.” Thus dx means a little bit of x; or du means a little bit of u. Ordinary mathematicians think it more polite to say “an element of,” instead of “a little bit of.” Just as you please. But you will find that these little bits (or elements) may be considered to be indefinitely small. (2) ∫ which is merely a long S, and may be called (if you like) “the sum of.” Thus ∫dx means the sum of all the little bits of x; or ∫dt means the sum of all the little bits of t. Ordinary mathematicians call this symbol “the integral of.” Now any fool can see that if x is considered as made up of a lot of little bits, each of which is called dx, if you add them all up together you get the sum of all the dx’s, (which is the same thing as the whole of x). The word “integral” simply means “the whole.” If you think of the duration of time for one hour, you may (if you like) think of it as cut up into 3600 little bits (called seconds). The whole of the 3600 little bits added up together make one hour. When you see an expression that begins with this terrifying symbol, you will henceforth know that it is put there merely to give you instructions that you are now to perform the operation (if you can) of totaling up all the little bits that are indicated by the symbols that follow. That's all. 2 C.M.E. A

A vintage textbook page from “Calculus Made Easy” explains differentiation and integration in deliberately simple, conversational language. The joke is that intimidating calculus symbols are reduced to “a little bit of” and “the sum of,” making a traditionally terrifying subject sound absurdly easy. It is shared as a reaction to overly complicated explanations or when someone humorously claims that a difficult task is simple. EN: A vintage textbook page from “Calculus Made Easy” explains differentiation and integration in deliberately simple, conversational language. The joke is that intimidating calculus symbols are reduced to “a little bit of” and “the sum of,” making a traditionally terrifying subject sound absurdly easy. It is shared as a reaction to overly complicated explanations or when someone humorously claims that a difficult task is simple.

• @rzeczyzabawne / 7825 2023-04-02