Fact of the Day: 01/09/2021

Differential calculus may sound like a difficult subject, but its premise is actually simple. 

We usually associate slopes with lines; however, using calculus, we can also find the slope of curves like parabolas. Since the steepness of curves is constantly changing, we’re most interested in finding the slope of a curve at a given instant in time—that is, the instantaneous rate of change at a point (‘rate of change’ is another way of saying ‘slope’). Differential calculus is all about finding the slope of a curve at a given point—called the derivative—using mathematical tools that are both familiar, like the concept of slope, and new, like the concept of a limit. 

Further Exploration: If you’d like to explore differential calculus, you can check out Khan Academy’s AP® Calculus AB course to get started. Link: https://www.khanacademy.org/math/ap-calculus-ab/

Fact Author: Ace

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