Math, Better Explained: Learn to Unlock Your Math Intuition

by Kalid Azad

Here’s my take: Calculus does to algebra what algebra did to arithmetic. Arithmetic is about manipulating numbers (addition, multiplication, etc.). Algebra finds patterns between numbers: a2 + b2 = c2 is a famous relationship, describing the sides of a right triangle. Algebra finds entire sets of numbers — if you know a and b, you can find c. Calculus finds patterns between equations: you can see how one equation (circumference = 2πr) relates to a similar one (area = πr2). Using calculus, we can ask all sorts of questions: How does an equation grow and shrink? Accumulate over time? When does it reach its highest/lowest point? How do we use variables that are constantly changing? (Heat, motion, populations, ...). And much, much more! Algebra & calculus are a problem-solving duo: calculus finds new equations, and algebra solves them. Like evolution, calculus expands your understanding of how Nature works.

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