Understanding Calculus
Understanding Calculus is a complete online introductory book that focuses on
concepts. Integrated throughout the e-book are many engineering
applications aimed at developing the student's scientific approach towards problem
solving.
The book has as much to do with calculus as with philosophy. My
motivation in writing it was to prove to myself that I could understand
a complex subject like calculus by applying simple rules
of logic and reason. As Henry Ford said, " Nothing is particularly
hard if you divide it
into small jobs ". Too much of the world is
complicated by layers of evolution. If you understand how each layer is
put down then you can begin to understand the complex systems that
govern our world.
Charles Darwin wrote in 1859 in his
On The Origin of Species,
" When we no longer look at an organic being as a savage looks at a
ship, as at something wholly beyond his comprehension; when we regard
every production of nature as one which had a history; when we
contemplate every complex structure and instinct as the summing up of
many contrivances, each useful to the possessor, nearly in the same as
when we look at any great mechanical invention as the summing of the
labour, the experience, the reason, and even the blunders of numerous
workmen; when we thus view each organic being, how far more interesting,
I speak from experience, will the study of natural history become! "
Darwin's words are equally applicable to art as well as science.
Every artist's performance requires a great deal of craft. Even
stand-up comedy is not a question of going on stage and saying funny things.
There is an enormous amount of work, practice and thought that would
have to go into it.
My advice to students is to find something that
fascinates you. As Physics Nobel Laureate
Richard Feynman
said, " Study hard
what interests you the most in the most undisciplined and
original manner possible." The price for seeking understanding is that one must be
willing to tolerate ambiguities and accept one's own ignorance. Feynman
said, " I can live with doubt and uncertainty. I think it is much more
interesting to live not knowing than to have answers which might be
wrong."
I hope you find the book enlightening as the goal is to learn by
understanding, not by memorizing.
Faraz Hussain - Author
