CALCULUS GLOSSARY

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Title	Description
Absolute Maximum	The highest point on a graph, especially over a specified domain. It is the greatest value of f(x) over a defined interval of x, provided y=f(x).
Absolute Minimum	The lowest point on a graph, especially over a specified domain. It is the least value of f(x) over a defined interval of x, provided y=f(x).
Antiderivative	Given a function with a derivative, the antiderivative of that derivative function returns the original function.
Area Under a Curve	If we have limits of integration, it is most simply the definite integral of the function defined between those limits of integration.
Asymptote	A line (or curve) that a function approaches without actually reaching the line as the domain either grows unbounded or approaches a limit.
Beta	Beta is the second letter of the Greek alphabet.
Boundary	Some functions are bounded, some are not. Some regions are bounded, some are not. To be bounded means to have a limit; its extent only goes so far, and then it stops or ends.
Bounded Function	A bounded function approaches or reaches a limit. If a function goes toward infinity it is generally considered unbounded.
Calculus	Calculus is the branch of mathematics concerned with the rates of changes between variables (derivatives) as well as areas under curves that represent functions (integrals).
Chain Rule	The Chain Rule is a basic rule in calculus to find the derivative of a composite function.
Continuous	A function is considered Continuous if its graph has no gaps, no holes, no steps, and no cusps or discontinuities.
Continuous Function	When the graph of a function has no holes, no gaps, no steps, or no discontinuities, then it is considered Continuous. It may have cusps.
Continuously Differentiable	When a function is Continuously Differentiable it is both continuous and smooth.
Convergence	To approach a limit is to experience Convergence. Mathematical series experience convergence when the sum of their expanded terms reaches a boundary or limit.
Convergent Series	A series is said to be Convergent when its sum approaches a limit.
Critical Number	While there are many ways to define Critical Numbers, depending on the circumstances, most generally we're interested in places where a function generates either an extreme value or a discontinuity.
Curve	Beware that mathematicians consider straight lines to be Curves!
Cusp	When the graph of a function comes to a sharp point, we say that point on the graph is a Cusp.
Cylindrical Shell	A method for volumetric calculations especially for rotated bodies around an axis. The small thickness of the shell is typically the differential "dx" (or dy or whatever differential represents the incremental thickness of the cylinder).
Definite Integral	An integral evaluated between limits of integration is termed a Definite Integral.
Delta	Delta is the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet. Upper-case Delta looks like a triangle and is used to mean "the change in..."
Derivative	A first Derivative is the slope of the line tangent to a function. A Derivative provides an instantaneous rate of change between variables.
Differentiable	If a function is smooth and continuous it is differentiable.
Differential Equation	A Differential Equation employs derivatives and algebra to solve for variables that represent functions.
Discontinuity	When a function is literally not continuous because of a gap, a step, a hole, or any kind of "break" it is considered discontinuous.
Dot Product	A product of vector multiplication, the Dot Product is a scalar, which means it has magnitude only and not an associated direction. The Dot Product does not result in another vector.
Extreme Value Theorem	On any continuous function graphed on a closed interval from a domain, we are guaranteed to have a maximum and a minimum value if the range of the function is not constant.
Finite	The common meaning of Finite and its meaning to mathematicians are not quite the same. In everyday language, Finite means countable within a reasonable time. To math people, Finite means not infinite; it means, simply, having a bound.
First Derivative	The First Derivative of a typical function, say, y = f(x), is the slope of the line tangent to a point on the graph of the original function f(x).
First Order Differential Equation	This type of equation includes first derivatives and employs algebra to treat those derivative functions as variables.
Indefinite Integral	An integral with no limits of integration, an Indefinite Integral, can be thought of an an antiderivative.
Indeterminate	Often a resultant fraction like 0/0 is an Indeterminate form that requires more analysis to determine its true nature, depending on the functions involved.
Infinite	In common language, not countable in any practical manner. In math, having no bounds or boundary.
Infinite Series	Any series of terms whose progression has an unlimited (limitless) number of terms is an Infinite Series.
Infinitesimal	Infinitely small is Infinitesimal, so tiny that it occupies no space. While in human terms anything really small (a molecule) is Infinitesimal, in math the term means approaching zero in size.
Infinity	That without bound; limitless.
Inflection	On the graph of a function, a point of Inflection is where the curve begins to "bend the other way."
Instantaneous Rate of Change	The value of the first derivative of a standard function of the form y = f(x).
Instantaneous Velocity	The reading at any instant on a speedometer gives an Instantaneous Velocity. To be precise, the speedometer gives an instant snapshot of speed (only) with no direction; physical velocity has both magnitude and direction, as a vector.
Integral	A specific function in calculus. Or, simply related to integers. Integral might also mean "important" in common language.
Integrand	The function that undergoes integration is the Integrand.
Integration	A process, or function, in calculus to sum an infinite number of infinitesimal increments.
Intermediate Value Theorem	The IVT basically says that between two different values is an intermediate value somewhere between the extremes.
Inverse Function	For most functions in Cartesian coordinates, the inverse function is the mirror image around the x=y line.
Inverse, Matrix	When two matrices multiply to produce the identity matrix, each is said to be the Inverse Matrix of the other.
Lambda	Lambda is the eleventh letter of the Greek alphabet and is used for wavelength in physics.
Limit	Some functions have a Limit, a bound beyond which they may not realize.
Lower Bound	As the name suggests, some functions are limited on the low side.
Magnitude, Vectors	The Magnitude of a vector is the length of the vector. We may apply a Pythagorean relation to the perpendicular components of the vector to find the length.
Mean Value Theorem	Essentially, between any two extremes is an average value.
Modulus	Most typically it is the length of a vector.
Moment	Moment takes on many meanings in statistics and physics.
Moment of Inertia	Each shape or body has an associated Moment of Inertia related to mass distribution and the choice of the axis around which the body is rotated.
Multivariable	Having more than one variable. Also multivariate.
Multivariate	Having more than one variable. Also multivariable.
Newton's Method	An iterative method for finding roots of polynomials.
Normalize	We might Normalize data by culling errors. Or we might Normalize a vector by assigning a unit vector in its direction.
Octant	As we have four quadrants in the rectangular plane, we have eight Octants in rectangular space. In three dimensions the three axes divide space into eight sections, each termed an Octant.
Odd Function	An Odd Function adheres to this property: f(-x) = -f(x). The standard sine function is an odd function.
Order, Matrix	The Order of a Matrix is its size, expressed as "rows by columns."
Ordered Triple	Three coordinates are required to label a point in space, typically (x, y, z).
Ordinary Differential Equation	A Differential Equation with no partial derivatives is considered an Ordinary Differential Equation.
Partial Derivative	The derivative with respect to a single variable is a Partial Derivative.
Partial Differential Equation	A Differential Equation with a Partial derivative.
Partial Fraction	A Fraction built from the decomposition of other terms.
Partial Sum	A Partial Sum occurs when we sum only a finite number of terms from a larger or infinite series of terms.
Power Rule	A simple device in calculus to determine the derivative of a monomial.
Product Rule	An algorithm within the calculus to find the derivative of the Product of two functions.
Projectile Motion	Projectile Motion is a parabolic arc caused by gravity.
Psi	The 23rd letter (next-to-last) of the Greek alphabet.
Pure Imaginary Number	Given a complex number of the form a + bi, when a = 0 we say that the number is a Pure (or purely) Imaginary Number.
Riemann Sum	Effectively the definite integral in calculus.
Rolle's Theorem	A principle from first-semester calculus that asserts a first derivative of zero exists on a smooth, continuous, differentiable function between constant range values.
Scalar Product	A Product of vector multiplication, such as a dot product, that results in a value that is Scalar with size (magnitude) but no associated direction.
Second Derivative	A Derivative taken of a first Derivative is termed a Second Derivative.
Second-order Differential Equation	An ordinary Differential Equation in which the highest derivative is a second derivative is called a Second-Order Differential Equation.
Sequence	Informally, any series is a Sequence. More formally, any series of terms that adheres or conforms to a pattern.
Series	Most often a sequence of terms to be summed. Informally, any sequence of terms may be a Series.
Shell Method	A method in calculus to calculate volumetric values from functions having been rotated about an axis.
Simpson's Rule	In calculus we may use three points of a parabola to approximate the function's range of values to determine the area of each partition of the integral.
Solid of Revolution	When a function is rotated around an axis (of Revolution) it generates a Solid of Revolution.
Solution	Too often in math class, "the answer." More directly, a Solution is a value (or set of values) that makes a mathematical statement true.
Spherical Geometry	Unlike plane Geometry, Spherical Geometry is not based on the parallel postulate. Many of our accepted geometric theorems, principles, and tenets (from plane Geometry) simply do not hold in Spherical Geometry.
Spherical Trigonometry	Unlike plane Trigonometry, elementary Spherical Trigonometry is three dimensional. If based in spherical geometry, the math of Spherical Trig gets downright grisly.
Tangent	A line that touches a function curve at a single point is said to be Tangent to the function. Tangent is also one of the six basic trigonometric functions; it is the ratio of the opposite side (from a specified angle) of a right triangle to the adjacent side.
Tangent Line	A Line is said to be Tangent to a function when it touches the graph of the function at a single point.
Taylor Series	Many common functions can be written as an expansion of the function about a point in a form known as a Taylor Series.
Tetrahedron	A polyhedron with four faces.
Three Dimensions	The Dimensions of space or volume are Three Dimensions, typically labeled with rectangular, spherical, or cylindrical coordinates.
Three-Dimensional Coordinates	Three-Dimensional Coordinates require an ordered triple to label a point in space.
Transcendental Number	A Transcendental Number will not be the root of a polynomial with integer coefficients; it is an irrational number.
Transpose (Matrix)	When we interchange the rows and columns of a matrix we Transpose the Matrix.
Trapezoidal Rule	When approximating an integral in calculus we may treat each partition as a Trapezoid to determine the area under the curve.
Triple Product (Scalar)	Effectively, a Scalar Triple Product is akin to the determinant of a 3x3 matrix.
Unit Vector	A vector of length one directed along one of the coordinate axes.
Upper Bound	The greatest permissible value of a function may be termed its Upper Bound.
Vector	Often represented with an arrow, a Vector is a quantity with both magnitude (size) and direction.
Vector Calculus	A piece of multivariable (or multivariate) Calculus, Vector Calculus concerns itself with Vector fields, their derivatives and integrals, most often in three-dimensional space.
Velocity	Formally a vector in physics, Velocity has both magnitude (speed) and direction.
Verify	To confirm is to Verify. When we Verify, we prove or establish some assertion to a dependable conclusion independent from bias. There is wisdom in these words: "Trust, but Verify."
Volume	The extent to which an object fills units of three-dimensional space is its Volume.
Washer	Essentially the same as a cylinder, the Washer method for integrating a volume of revolution in calculus employs a thin, hollow disk as the partition of integration.
Xi	The 14th letter of the Greek alphabet.
Zero Vector	A Vector of length Zero.

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