How To Find Area Under Curve In Calculus
Figuring out how to find the area a under curve in a graph can be a simple process once you understand the formula and the surrounding pieces of information given in the problem. Finding the area is part of integration mathematics, and by using the appropriate formula, we can calculate not just the area, but any given quantity.
A typical graph has an x-axis and a y-axis, and when you add a curve to this structure, you’ll immediately see where the area under the curve lies. By finding the points along the curve, we can input them into the formula for finding the area under a curve, and solve for the final answer.
What Is Calculus?
Calculus is one kind of mathematics and deals with finding different properties of integrals of functions and other derivatives. To see these values, specific mathematical methods are used that are based on the sums of differences which are infinitesimal.
There are two primary types of calculus, which are integral calculus and differential calculus. Overall, calculus can be summed up as a system of calculating and reasoning different values as they undergo constant change.
These two kinds of calculus are connected to each other by a theory called the fundamental theorem of calculus. Both kinds of calculus use notions such as infinite sequences, convergence, and infinite series as it applies to limits that are well defined.
The calculus that is taught currently is credited to the 17th-century mathematicians Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz. Calculus today is now widely used in other disciplines such as economics, engineering, and science.
Calculus is now part of the modern curriculum taught in most schools, and it can serve as a gateway to more complicated mathematical learning, and other studies regarding limits, functions, and additional mathematical analysis.
It’s possible that you may have also heard calculus referred to by other names such as infinitesimal calculus, or “the calculus of infinitesimals. Calculus has also been employed as a name for different kinds of mathematical notation such as Ricci calculus, lambda calculus, propositional calculus, process calculus, and calculus of variations.
Calculus dates back to ancient and even medieval times where it was used to develop different ideas surrounding calculations such as area, volume, and early ideas about limits. Calculus has been used to discover different values such as the area of a circle, and the volume of a sphere.
Definite Integrals And Finding The Area Under A Curve
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There are many different real-world applications where finding the area under a curve can be useful, and many of these don’t have anything to do with math alone. The formulas and method for finding the area under a curve can be useful in a variety of subjects including:
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Biology
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Statistics
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Medicine
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A good example is calculating the displacement of water in a tank which can be done by calculating the movement as it relates to time. Water will leave or enter a tank at a specific rate for each unit of time that passes.
Physics is one subject that uses calculus quite frequently, and it is often used to find values such as the distance and velocity as well as the rate of change within specific environments. These values may be quite small, but calculus is designed to help find the optimal solution given non-constant rates.
Other Kinds Of Calculus
There are different reformulations of calculus that have been created and investigated over time in order to establish their reliability and what purpose they are best suited for in mathematics. There are at least three other kinds of calculus called constructive analysis, non-standard calculus, and smooth infinitesimal analysis.
Constructive Analysis
Constructive analysis is part of the group that refers to constructive mathematics which is part of mathematics that requires the use of proofs in order to establish that a function, number, or other value exists. This kind of mathematics rejects the law of excluded middle and instead relies on these proofs.
There are different reformulations of constructive analysis where calculus has been borrowed and transformed into another branch of mathematics. Most of these alternative frameworks fall under constructive analysis due to their need for proofs, but there are some exceptions.
Non-Standard Calculus
Non-standard calculus is based on calculations that use infinitesimals. Calculations performed with infinitesimals in an imprecise manner were primarily eliminated in the 1870s when the concept of definitions of limits became commonplace.
Non-standard calculus was created in 1960 by Lerzy Los which built upon a pre-existing framework that was designed by Edwin Hewitt. Although non-standard calculus has more than enough material to make it a valid mathematical option for other branches, it is not always used.
Many of the publications you will find that discuss traditional theories of calculus are often labeled under the umbrella of non-standard calculus. There are many books, magazines articles, and academic articles published on the topic.
Smooth Infinitesimal Analysis
The topic of smooth infinitesimal analysis refers solely to reformulations of calculus that involve infinitesimals and employ category theory. This type of calculus was created using ideas by F.W. Lawvere, and it works under the premise that all functions are continuous and able to be expressed as entities that are discreet in nature.
This formulation is well known for its inability to meet the requirements of the Law of Excluded Middle, and it is therefore not suitable in every case.
Why Should I Learn Calculus?
Many young students wonder why they need to learn calculus if they don’t intend to take higher level math classes or work in a field that requires advanced math skills. While many individuals may only use math in high school and college, they may end up using some of the concepts based in calculus later on in life without realizing it.
Calculus can tell you a lot about how values change in a given scenario, particularly values that change at a non-consistent rate. Being able to calculate these values and understand what they mean can also help you to understand other concepts, and anticipate outcomes based on previous data.
Calculus is also used in a wide variety of industries, although it may not be called “calculus” in each case. Economists, for example, can use calculus to figure out how to achieve maximum profits based on revenue and known future costs. Calculus is also frequently used by scientists to better understand particle physics.
Population dynamics and change also makes use of calculus, and autonomous cars and google earth use formulations of calculus to function as well. Calculus is also unique because it has a long and interesting history that spans many cultures and centuries.
Calculus is also used for more uncommon purposes such as calculating the size and changes of a black hole and understanding the motion of the planets and other celestial bodies. You can also use calculus to understand climate change, and the growth of various populations which makes is useful to a wide variety of occupations.
The spread of diseases can also be predicted by using theories rooted in calculus, and financial and economic crisis can also be aided through the use of this branch of mathematics. Probably the most compelling reason to learn calculus is that it helps to expand your thoughts on how various values can be calculated even if they are difficult to imagine.
Calculus may also be a difficult subject to teach, but it is critical in forming the ability to solve complex problems and think through the different variables and forces at play.
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