McKay Nielsen

21 April 2019

Math 1210

Professor Suda Satcunasingam

Course Reflection

Throughout this course I have learned the useful concept of differentiation. This concept

has allowed me to realize the connections between formulas. Many formulas used to explain the

world in physics, finance, chemistry, and other schools of profession are all derived and related

to each other. It is interesting and fascinating to notice how connected numbers and functions are

and how they contain the explanation of the mechanics of the physical world.

As an aspiring programmer, I have a basic understanding and speculation of how calculus

will be utilized within my career. For example, many cars are maintained by micro-controller

programs to determine speed, distance traveled, and navigation, as well as auto-parking features

and automatic braking safety features. Calculus and derivatives of position and speed must be

used to formulate a responsive and adaptive function for such precise requirements.

Other utilization of calculus may be seen in business programs and applications that help

estimate, speculate, and determine marginal cost, savings requirements, and budgeting

constraints. A computer program using calculus would use derivatives to determine these vital

financial considerations.

My knowledge of these concepts can be seen in the signature assignments where I utilize

the Mean Value Theorem to understand the relationships between tangent lines, secant lines, and
a graphed function. These concepts are likely widely utilized in the previously mentioned

example of vehicle automation.

The derivatives signature assignment is a representation of my understanding of

derivatives and their relationships. Specifically, in this case, the relationships between velocity,

position, and acceleration. The understanding of these relations allowed me to discover the

movement, velocity, and acceleration of a particle over time. By graphing the three separate

functions, I was able to interpret and conjure a visual representation of the particle’s motion. The

concepts of derivatives and their relations are often used in financial examples like the one

previously explained.

This course has furthered my understanding of the underlying code of numbers and

functions that formulate and mechanize our daily world. Many brilliant minds have slaved to

make these discoveries of explanation. The vast interconnectivity of numbers and the world

further my excitement in computer science and its utilization.