Lecture Description
In this course, Prof. Gilbert Strang discusses Power Series and Euler's Great Formula.
A special power series is e^x = 1 + x + x^2 / 2! + x^3 / 3! + ... + every x^n / n!
The series continues forever but for any x it adds up to the number e^x
If you multiply each x^n / n! by the nth derivative of f(x) at x = 0, the series adds to f(x). This is a Taylor Series. Of course, all those derivatives are 1 for e^x.
Two great series are cos x = 1 - x^2 / 2! + x^4 / 4!... and sin x = x - x^3 / 3!... cosine has even powers, sine has odd powers, both have alternating plus/minus signs. Fermat saw magic using i^2 = -1. Then e^ix exactly matches cos x + i sin x.
Course Index
- Faculty Introduction
- Big Picture of Calculus
- Big Picture: Derivatives
- Max and Min and Second Derivative
- The Exponential Function
- Big Picture: Integrals
- Derivative of sin x and cos x
- Product Rule and Quotient Rule
- Chains f(g(x)) and the Chain Rule
- Limits and Continuous Functions
- Inverse Functions f ^-1 (y) and the Logarithm x = ln y
- Derivatives of ln y and sin ^-1 (y)
- Growth Rate and Log Graphs
- Linear Approximation/Newton's Method
- Power Series/Euler's Great Formula
- Differential Equations of Motion
- Differential Equations of Growth
- Six Functions, Six Rules, and Six Theorems
Course Description
Highlights of Calculus is a series of short videos that introduces the basics of calculus—how it works and why it is important. The intended audience is high school students, college students, or anyone who might need help understanding the subject.
The series is divided into three sections:
Introduction
- Why Professor Strang created these videos
- How to use the materials
Highlights of Calculus
- Five videos reviewing the key topics and ideas of calculus
- Applications to real-life situations and problems
- Additional summary slides and practice problems
Derivatives
- Twelve videos focused on differential calculus
- More applications to real-life situations and problems
- Additional summary slides and practice problems
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to Professor J.C. Nave for his help and advice on the development and recording of this program.The video editing was funded by the Lord Foundation of Massachusetts.