For a math project, I need to provide a "substantive definition" of
Calculus, and in addition to using web/other resources, a requirement
is to utilize "human resources" as well to bring clarity to the
subject.  I'm looking for a concise (4-5 sentence?) definition of
Calculus along with perhaps one or two applications which would
demonstrate it's usage.

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Request for Question Clarification by denco-ga on 01 Sep 2005 17:25 PDT

Howdy sephohnek-ga,

Would the "encyclopedia" entry for calculus here suffice?

http://www.answers.com/topic/calculus

Thanks!  denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher

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Clarification of Question by sephohnek-ga on 01 Sep 2005 18:01 PDT

That'll do.  Thank you for introducing me to what appears to be a
wonderful reference resource also.

Howdy sephohnek-ga,

Appreciate you accepting this as an answer to your question.

One of the features of Google that I use quite often is the "definition"
link that is presented on searches such as these.

After doing a search on Google for the word "calculus" there will be a
results summary in the upper right side of the results page, similar to
this.
://www.google.com/search?&q=calculus

"Results 1 - 10 of about 11,400,000 for calculus [definition]."

In this case, the word "definition" is a link to the following.
://www.google.com/url?sa=X&oi=dict&q=http://www.answers.com/calculus%26r%3D67

The "definition" link lead to the Answers.com page for the word "calculus"
which includes the dictionary, encyclopedia and other entries on the subject.

If you need any clarification, please feel free to ask.


Search strategy:

Did a search on Google for "calculus" and used the "definition" link that
Google presented.

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher

Calculus was the end of the line for my frustration in Math. Calculus
was the light at the end of the tunnel that was Math. After Calculus,
no more another branch of Math for me in college then. Heaven!

Those are 4 sentences. Within your requirements.

Usage of Calculus:
I calculate how much more to pay my power bill if I stay later at
nights browsing the internet.
I use my calculator when necessary.

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I hope you can consider me as a human resource.

The most basic definition of calculus is the study of the properties
and applications of the concept of a limit.

Both Differiential and Intergral calculus are based on the limit.

The posterboy for the usefulness of calculus is the relationships
between Velocity, Position, and Acceleration of an object.

Given one as a function of time (or of eachother), the other two can
be obtained through calculus.

Hope this helps.