Essence of calculus

E1

In this first video of the series, we see how unraveling the nuances of a simple geometry question can lead to integrals, derivatives, and the fundamental theorem of calculus.

The paradox of the derivative

E2

Derivatives center on the idea of change in an instant, but change happens across time while an instant consists of just one moment. How does that work?

Derivative formulas through geometry

E3

A few derivative formulas, such as the power rule and the derivative of sine, demonstrated with geometric intuition.

Visualizing the chain rule and product rule

E4

A visual explanation of what the chain rule and product rule are, and why they are true.

What's so special about Euler's number e?

E5

What is e? And why are exponentials proportional to their own derivatives?

Implicit differentiation, what's going on here?

E6

Implicit differentiation can feel weird, but what's going on makes much more sense once you view each side of the equation as a two-variable function, f(x, y).

Limits, L'Hopital's rule, and epsilon delta definitions

E7

Formal derivatives, the epsilon-delta definition, and why L'Hôpital's rule works.

Integration and the fundamental theorem of calculus

E8

What is an integral? How do you think about it?

What does area have to do with slope?

E9

Integrals are used to find the average of a continuous variable, and this can offer a perspective on why integrals and derivatives are inverses, distinct from the one shown in the last video.

Higher order derivatives

E10

A very quick primer on the second derivative, third derivative, etc.

Taylor series

E11

Taylor polynomials are incredibly powerful for approximations, and Taylor series can give new ways to express functions.

What they won't teach you in calculus

E12

A visual for derivatives which generalizes more nicely to topics beyond calculus.