Chapter 14

Calculus

Differentiation (finding gradients) and an introduction to integration — with an interactive exercise.

Calculus covers differentiation (finding the gradient/rate of change) and integration (its reverse).

Differentiation rule

If $y=x^n$ then $\dfrac{dy}{dx}=n x^{n-1}$

So $\dfrac{d}{dx}(x^2)=2x$, which equals $6$ when $x=3$. Integration reverses this and finds areas under curves.

Remember

  • Differentiate $x^n$ → $nx^{n-1}$.
  • Differentiation = gradient; integration = area/reverse.

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