In preparation for my studies this spring, I felt it would be a good idea to brush up my calculus book. Well, “brush up” turned into “do an entire calculus course.” I guess I have a a habit of overdoing things. Anyway, the book selected was the 1980 edition of Calculus and It’s Applications which happened to be sitting around. The main reason for calculus rather than say, Physics, is that in physics, especially elementary physics, one finds just the equations Newton thus the echos of Calculus (and further, the echos of Cambridge, Newton’s own alma mater). Not to lower the achievements of Maxwell, Faraday and others in study of fields, but fields are simply not well enough explored (and in fact the “wrong idea” for electromagnetics) to give a student a good understanding until the second or third unit of calculus, into which I only progressed outside the classroom.
I decided recently due to the lack of progress in the book that I would put myself on a rigorous schedule. Rigorous perhaps isn’t the proper word. Daunting? Ludicrous? Closer. Anyway, I’m doing a section a day every day until it’s done. Thus far I am already nearly through basic derivatives, and properties of functions found in them, maximizing, minimizing, etc. The book is essentially an applied course and thus is somewhat easier than the full blown course but still has everything I remember seeing in my AP Calculus class, making it a good review.
In doing the sections I already committed myself to doing every single odd problem. This is a somewhat regrettable decision as the number of problems is a relatively constant 15-20 or so, despite the relative difficulty of the problems themselves. So in the case of function properties, I am doing about 10-15 minutes per problem. However this weekend will mark the completion of the second chapter, and I will be well on my way to finishing the book, which at current rate will be completed by November 15th.
This is, for those of you who know me, in contrast to my high school days, where I rarely if ever did homework and passed on shear intellect and test taking ability. Sort of a blow in the head, but this is probably also the first time I’ve chosen a course that I want rather than something that was predetermined for me or at least felt that way. There is a huge difference in having to work to succeed and having success come to you. In my case, having experienced a bit of both, I can say that by far I would have more respect for the average or below average student who completes college than the above average student who doesn’t, and likewise for nearly every venture. Big people should do big things, something that’s not always ingrained in people with high abilities. It is certainly sobering to think that there is a good chance that my dream will not come true, that I may be considered lacking despite my best effort, and that I may be resigned to a choice rather than having options.
I remember a certain father figure, among many others, speaking to me about doors being closed and opportunities being lost. As with a lot of things in my life, I had to learn the hard way. Hopefully this door is not yet closed, and I can still slide through.
