Even when I read descriptions of the calculus, I don't understand the calculus

[MrCoffee]

I'm reading a "history of physics" book, and the chapter on Newton has a really nicely-worded description of calculus, and it makes no sense at all to me.

:dunce:

[flvegan]

1. History of physics?

Nerd.

:rofl:

[MrCoffee]

2. Shut it, Ogre

[Rabrrrrrr]

Which book? I read a lot of books on math and science.

[MrCoffee]

4. Coming of Age in the Milky Way

It's pop history of the development of cosmology, but it's well-written pop history.

[Rabrrrrrr]

13. That one I've not read - is it worth reading?

[MrCoffee]

15. I like it

The author, Timothy Ferris, does a respectable job tracing the Western history of cosmology and the corresponding developments in physics, astronomy and technology that went along with it. It's probably around a 10th or 11th grade level read, but it's entertaining enough.

NY Times review http://www.times.com/books/98/12/06/specials/ferris-milky.html

[Pierre.Suave]

3. That sounds like a good book

but, may I suggest you not read the book, "Where Math Comes From" if you dont get the book you are reading now...

:P

[PVnRT]

5. Newton's description of The Calculus is difficult for anyone

He was not known for his communicative skills.

"A Tour of The Calculus" (I can't remember the author) offers a very nice summary of it, starting from number theory to those weird symbols that mathematicians use.

[UndertheOcean]

10. Right , His books read like Euclid

The Geometrical approach was all the rage then.

[Rabrrrrrr]

14. David Berlinski - that's a fantastic book, as are all of Berlinski's books.

I loved them all!

(I haven't read his new one, Devil's Delusion, though)

[PVnRT]

17. Yep. For some reason I was thinking Brzenski or something like that

[MrCoffee]

18. Thanks for the tip...I just placed it on hold at the library.

[UndertheOcean]

6. oh , baby Calculus , as we call it.

It mystifies me when someone finds Calculus hard. It is EVERYWHERE .....modern society is not possible without it.

[MrCoffee]

12. Hey, I'm glad there are people who know this stuff

I'm saying that I'm dumb because I don't.

[UndertheOcean]

16. Your not dumb , you just don't enjoy it ,

and if you don't enjoy something it is an effort to put in the work necessary to understand it.

I find Math beautiful , and for me , a lot of it IS hard and dry , but still beautiful. Calculus is just the beginning , the alphabet that allows you to get into "real" math.

[skygazer]

22. Well, for me its not a matter of not enjoying it

It's a matter of not retaining it. When I am taught mathematical concepts, I understand them, can apply them and always do well in classes that teach them. But hard as I study, work problems and try, I cannot seem to retain them the way I do language-based work. And yes, I know math is a language but I can recall verbatim whole swathes of books I've read once - a math concept I had dialed yesterday is very difficult to dredge up today.

[philosophie_en_rose]

7. U + Me = US

I learned my calculus from MTV.

[old mark]

8. Ogre, I am a "non-math" person who once took college

algebra. I dropped it after the first week.
Prof asked, why didn't you ask questions - I would have been glad to help. Told her I was so lost, I had no idea what to ask.

Years later, took a course for those whe will probably never have to do math, barely passed it, but never have to taky one again.

mark

[MrCoffee]

11. Heh...it took me 3 tries to pass college algebra, and I'm pretty sure that

the professor took pity on me during the 3rd try.

[billyoc]

9. I'm in the middle of "Calculus Wars", but I'll have to kill anybody who tells.

:rofl:

[Lethe]

19. calculus as a concept isnt that hard

like say, a derivative....it's a fancy mathematical term to describe how fast something is changing.

[datasuspect]

20. 2 good 2 be 4 gotten

[Dr. Strange]

21. Calculus is just algebra (and trig) with liimits.

Now, relativity...that's some heavy-handed shit.