'- THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES FROM THE LIBRARY OF ERNEST CARROLL MOORE AN ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON THE CALCULUS. AN ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON THE CALCULUS WITH ILLUSTRATIONS FROM GEOMETRY, MECHANICS AND PHYSICS BY GEOEGE A. GIBSON, MA., F.R.S.E. PROFESSOR OP MATHEMATICS IN THE GLASGOW AND WEST OF SCOTLAND TECHNICAL COLLEGE MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED NEW YORK : THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 1903 All rights reserved First Edition, 1901. Reprinted, iy03. GLASGOW : PRINTED AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS BY ROBERT MACLEHOSK AND CO. Engineering I Mathematical Sciences Library 303 S-3S PREFACE. THE rapid growth in recent years of all branches of applied science and the consequent increasing claims on the time of students have given rise in various quarters to the demand for a change in the character of mathematical text-books. To meet" this demand several works have been published, addressed to particular classes of students and designed to supply them with the special kind and quantity of mathe- matics they are supposed to need. With many of the arguments urged in favour of the change I am in hearty sympathy, but it is as true now as it was of old that there is no royal road to mathematics, and that no really useful knowledge can be gained except by strenuous effort. It is sometimes alleged that a thorough knowledge of the derivatives and integrals of the simpler powers, of the exponential and the logarithmic functions, and perhaps of the sine and the cosine, is quite sufficient preparation in the Calculus for the engineer. This contention has a solid substratum of truth ; but a knowledge that goes beyond the mere ability to quote results is not to be obtained by the few lessons that are too often considered sufficient to expound these elementary rules. It may be possible to state and illustrate in a few lessons a sufficient amount of the special results of the Calculus to enable a student to follow with some intelligence the more vi AN ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON THE CALCULUS. elementary treatment of mechanical and physical problems ; but, though such a meagre course in the Calculus may not be without value, it is quite inadequate, both in kind and in quantity, as a preparation for the serious study of such practical subjects as Alternate Current Theory, Thermodynamics, Hydrodynamics, and the theory of Elas- ticity, and to a student so prepared much of the recent literature in Physics and Chemistry would be a sealed book. Besides, it should surely be the aim of every well- devised scheme of education to place the student in a position to undertake independent research in his own particular line of work, and the very complexity of the problems presented to modern science, with the vast accum- ulation of detail so characteristic of it, enhances in no small degree the value of a liberal training in mathematics. Subsequent specialisation makes it the more, not the less, necessary that the mathematical training in the earlier stages should be the same whether the student afterwards devotes himself to pure mathematics or to the more practical branches of science, especially as the processes of thought involved in any serious study of mechanical, physical, or chemical phenomena have much in common with those developed in the study of the Calculus. The early text-books on the Calculus, such as Maclaurin's or Simpson's, were not written for pure mathematicians alone, but drew their illustrations largely from Natural Philosophy ; the later text-books, probably in consequence of the ever-widening range of Physics, gradually dropped physical applications, and even tended to become treatises on Higher Geometry. In the present position of mathe- matical science, however, it is just as much out of place to make an elementary work on the Calculus a text-book of Higher Geometry as it would be to make it a text- book of Physics or of Engineering or of Chemistry. What PREFACE. vii may be reasonably required of an elementary work on the Calculus is that it should prepare the student for immediately applying its principles and processes in any department of his studies in which the Calculus is generally used. With this end in view, the subject should be illustrated from Geometry, Mechanics, and Physics while the peculiar difficulties of these branches are relegated for detailed treatment to special text-books, so that the illustrations may really serve their purpose of throwing light on general principles, and may not introduce rather than remove intellectual obscurity. As regards Chemistry, a sound knowledge of the Calculus is of special importance, since it is the properties of functions of more than one variable that are predominant in chemical investigations ; the lately published book of Van Laar, Lehrbuch der Mathematischen Chemie, is a sign of the times that cannot be mistaken. In this text-book an effort has been made to realise the aims just indicated. With respect to mathematical attainments, the reader is supposed to be familiar with Geometry, as represented by the parts of Euclid's Elements that are usually read, with Algebra up to the Binomial Theorem for positive integral indices, and with Plane Trigonometry as far as the Addition Theorem ; but no use is made of Complex (imaginary) number, nor is a knowledge of Infinite Series presupposed. The excessive refinements of - modern mathematics have been deliberately avoided, as being neither profitable nor even intelligible to the young student; constant appeal has been made to geometrical intuitions, while at the same time considerable attention has been paid to the logical development of the subject. The early chapters may seem to contain a great deal of matter that is foreign to the book : but the theory viii AN ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON THE CALCULUS. of graphs and of units is of such importance, and is as yet so imperfectly treated in elementary teaching, that some account of it appeared to be a necessity. After considerable hesitation I have included in my plan the elements of Coordinate Geometry, so far as these were likely to be of real service in elucidating fundamental principles or important applications ; but for many applications of the Calculus an extensive acquaintance with Coordinate Geometry is not necessary, and I hope that a sufficiently clear account of its principles has been given to meet the practical needs of many students. I have, however, excluded the discus- sion of the theory of Higher Plane Curves and of Surfaces as unsuitable for an elementary treatise. Another innovation is the chapter on the Theory of Equations ; the innovation seems to be justified, not merely as an arithmetical illustration of the Calculus, but also by the practical importance of the subject, and by the absence of elementary works that treat of transcendental equations. The general development is that which I have followed in class-teaching for several years. The somewhat lengthy discussion of the conceptions of a rate and a limit I have found in practice to be the simplest method of enabling a student to grapple with the special difficulties of the Calculus in its applications to mechanical or physical problems ; when these notions have been thoroughly grasped, subsequent progress is more certain and rapid. No rigid line is drawn between differentiation and inte- gration, and several important results requiring integration are obtained before that branch is taken up for detailed treatment. The discussion in Chapter X. of areas and of derived and integral curves is designed, not only to furnish a fairly satisfactory basis for the geometrical definition of the definite integral, but also to illustrate a method of graphical integration that is of some importance to PREFACE. ix engineers, and that may be of some value even in purely theoretical discussions. As in some of the more recent text-books, the discussion of Taylor's Theorem has been postponed ; the Mean Value Theorem is sufficient in the earlier stages, and the some- what abstract theorems on Convergence and Continuity of Series are most profitably treated towards the end of the course. The treatment, however, is such that teachers who prefer the usual order may at once pass from the Mean Value Theorem to Chapters XVII. and XVIII. Functions of more than one variable are treated in less detail than functions of one variable ; but I have tried to select such portions of the theory as are of most importance in physical applications. The book closes with a short chapter on Ordinary Differential Equations, designed to illustrate the types of equations most frequently met with in dynamics, physics, and mechanical and electrical engineering. Simple exercises are attached to many of the sections; in the formal sets will be found several theorems and results for which room could not be made in the text, and which are yet of sufficient importance to be explicitly stated. I have tried to exclude all examples that have nothing but their difficulty to recommend them ; and with the object of encouraging the student to put himself through the drill that is absolutely necessary for the acquisition of facility and confidence in applying the Calculus, I have freely given hints towards the solution of the more important examples. In the preparation of the book, I have consulted many treatises, and where I am conscious of having adopted a method of exposition that is peculiar to any writer, I have been careful to make due acknowledgment. It is difficult, however, when one has been teaching a subject for years to X AN ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON THE CALCULUS. recognise the sources of his knowledge, and it may well be that I have borrowed more largely than I am aware. I am greatly indebted to my friends Professor Andrew Gray, F.R.S.; Mr. John S. Mackay,LL.D.; Mr. Peter Bennett ; Mr. John Dougall, M.A.; and Mr. Peter Pinkerton, M.A., for help in the tedious task of the revision of proof-sheets and for useful criticism. In all matters bearing on Physics, Professor Gray's advice has been of the greatest service. To Mr. Dougall my obligations are specially great ; he has taken a lively interest in the work from its inception, and has read the whole of it in manuscript, placing at my dis- posal, in the most generous way, his great knowledge of the subject and the fruits of his experience as a teacher ; to him, too, I owe the verification of the examples. I desire to thank Professor R. A. Gregory for his constant and kindly advice on matters relating to the passage of the book through the press. I am also grateful to the printers for the excellence of their share of the work. GEOEGE A. GIBSON". GLASGOW, September, 1901. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. COORDINATES. FUNCTIONS. ART. PAGE 1. Directed Segments or Steps, 1 2. Addition of Steps, 2 3. Symmetric Steps and Subtraction of Steps, 3 4. Abscissa of a Point. Fundamental Axiom, 4 5. Measure of a Step, ........ 5 6. Axes of Coordinates. Squared Paper, .... 6 7. Distance between two Points, 9 8. Polar Coordinates, 10 9. Variable. Continuity, . . . . 12 10. Geometrical Representation of Magnitudes, 13 11. Function. Dependent and Independent Variables, . 13 12. Notation for Functions, 16 13. Explicit and Implicit Functions, ..... 16 14. Multiple-valued and Inverse Functions, .... 17 Exercises I. , 19 CHAPTER II. GRAPHS. RATIONAL FUNCTIONS. 15. Object of the Calculus. Graphs, 20 16. Graph of x-, 20 17. Equation of a Curve. Symmetry. Turning Values, 23 18. Graph of ex 2 , 24 19. Scale Units, ......... 26 20. Coordinate Geometry, 27 Exercise* II., ..... 29 xii AN ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON THE CALCULUS. ART. 21. The Linear Function. Intercepts, . . . , 22. Gradient, PAGE . . 30 32 Exercises III., . 23. Rational Functions. Point of Inflexion, . 24. Asymptotes, Exercises IV., . 32 34 37 41 CHAPTER III. GRAPHS. ALGEBRAIC AND TRANSCENDENTAL FUNCTIONS. CONIC SECTIONS. 25. Algebraic Functions. Graph of Inverse Functions. Cusps, . 43 26. Conic Sections, 47 27. Change of Origin and of Axes, 52 Exercises V., 54 28. Transcendental Functions. Trigonometric Functions, . . 56 29. The Exponential Function and the Logarithmic Function, . 57 30. General Observations on Graphs, 59 Exercises VI., 60 CHAPTEE IV. RATES. LIMITS. 31. Rates, 65 32. Increments, 65 33. Uniform Variation. Measure of a Uniform Rate, ... 67 34. Dimensions of Magnitudes, ....... 68 35. Variable Rates, 71 36. Average Rate, 71 37. Measure of a Variable Rate, ....... 73 38. Limits, 74 39. Examples of Limits. Definition of Tangent, .... 74 40. General Explanation of a Limit, .'..... 79 41. Definition of a Limit. Notation. Distinction between Limit and Value, 79 42. Theorems on Limits, ......... 81 43. Examples. Mensuration of Cylinder and Cone, ... 83 CONTENTS. xiii CHAPTER V. CONTINUITY OF FUNCTIONS. SPECIAL LIMITS. ART. PAGE 44. Continuity of a Function, 87 45. Theorems on Continuous Functions, 89 46. Continuity of the Elementary Functions, 90 47. L(jc-a n )/(a;-a), 91 48. L fl + -^ m . The number e, 92 49. The Function e*, 96 50. Compound Interest Law, 97 Exercises VII. , 98 CHAPTER VI. DIFFERENTIATION. ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS. 51. Derivatives. Differentiation, ....... 101 52. Increasing and Decreasing Functions. Stationary Values, . 103 53. Geometrical Interpretation of a Derivative, . . . .105 54. Derivative as an Aid in Graphing a Function, . . . .106 55. Derivative not Definite, ........ 107 56. Fluxions. Velocity, 109 57. Derivative of a Power, Ill 58. General Theorems, Ill Exercises VIII 115 59. Derivative of a Function of a Function and of Inverse Functions, 116 Exercises IX., 119 60. Differentials, 120 61. Geometrical Applications. Tangent. Subtangent, etc. , . . 122 62. Derivative of Arc, 124 Exercises X., 125 CHAPTER VII. DIFFERENTIATION (contimted). TRANSCENDENTAL FUNCTIONS. HIGHER DERIVATIVES. 63. Derivatives of the Trigonometric Functions, .... 129 Exercises XL, 131 64. Inverse Trigonometric Functions, . . . . . . 1 33 Exercises XII., 134 xiv AN ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON THE CALCULUS. ART. PAGE 65. Exponential and Logarithmic Functions, ..... 135 Exercises Kill., 130 66. Hyperbolic Functions, 130 67. Higher Derivatives, ,142 68. Leibniz's Theorem. Examples, 144 Exercises XIV., 116 CHAPTER VIII. PHYSICAL APPLICATIONS. 69. Applications of Derivatives in Dynamics. Simple Harmonic Motion. Potential, 149 70. Coefficients of Elasticity and Expansion, 156 71. Conduction of Heat, 157 Exercises XV., 159 CHAPTER IX. MEAN VALUE THEOREMS. MAXIMA AND MINIMA. POINTS OF INFLEXION. 72. Rolle's Theorem and the Theorems of Mean Value, . . . 161 73. Other Forms of the Theorems of Mean Value, . . . .164 74. Maxima and Minima, . . . . . . . . 166 75. Examples. Graph of e' ax ain(bx + c), 168 76. Elementary Methods, 171 77. Variation near a Turning Value, ...... 174 Exercises X VI. a, X VI. b, X VI. c, . 176-180 78. Concavity and Convexity. Points of Inflexion, . . .180 Exercises XVII., 182 CHAPTER X. DERIVED AND INTEGRAL CURVES. INTEGRAL FUNCTION. DERIVATIVES OF AREA AND VOLUME OF A SURFACE OF REVOLUTION. POLAR FORMULAE. INFINITESIMALS. 79. Derived Curves, . . 183 80. Derivative of an Area, ........ 185 81. Interpretation of Area, 187 CONTENTS. xv ART. PAGE 82. Integral Function, 188 83. Integral Curve, 190 84. Graphical Integration, 192 85. Surfaces of Revolution, , . 193 86. Infinitesimals, . . 195 87. Fundamental Theorems 197 88. Polar Formulae, 200 Exercises XT II I., 201 CHAPTER XL PARTIAL DIFFERENTIATION. 89. Partial Differentiation. Continuity of a Function of two or more Independent Variables, 204 89 a. Coordinate Geometry of Three Dimensions. Direction Cosines. Equations of Line and Plane. Equation of Surface, . . 205 90. Total Derivatives. Complete Differentials, . . . .211 91. Geometrical Illustrations. Tangent Plane. Normal, . . 214 92. Rate of Variation in a given Direction. Note on Angles, . 218 93. Derivatives of Higher Orders. Commutative Property. Laplace's Equation, 220 94. Complete Differentials, 224 95. Application to Mechanics. Potential, ..... 225 96. Application to Thermodynamics, ...... 228 97. Four Thermodynamic Relations, 231 98. Change of Variable. Differentials of Higher Orders, . . 233 99. Transformation of V*u, 235 Exercises XIX., 238 CHAPTER XII. APPLICATIONS TO THE THEORY OF EQUATIONS. Rational Integral Functions. Zeroes, ..... 242 Any Continuous Function, 243 Newton's Method of approximating to the Roots of an Equation, 244 Tests for Degree of Approximation, ..... 245 Examples, .......... 246 Successive Approximations, 247 xvi AN ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON THE CALCULUS. ART. PAGE 106. Expansion of a Root in a Series. Reversion of Series, . . 249 107. The Equation x = tan x, 251 Exercises XX., ...... 253 108. Proportional Parts, 255 109. Small Corrections, . 258 Exercises XXI., 260 CHAPTER XIII. INTEGRATION. 110. Integration. Indefinite and Definite Integral. Constant of Integration, 262 111. Standard Forms, '264 112. Algebraic and Trigonometric Transformations, . . . 267 Exercises XXII. , 269 113. Change of Variable, 271 114. Examples of Change of Variable, 272 115. Quadratic Functions, 274 116. Trigonometric and Hyperbolic Substitutions, .... 277 117. Some Trigonometric Integrands, 278 Exercises XXIII. , 280 118. Integration by Parts, 281 /? 119. Successive Reduction. The Integral / sin m xcos"xdx, . . 284 Jo Exercises XXIV., 288 120. Partial Fractions, 290 121. Integration of Rational Functions, 292 122. Irrational Functions, 294 123. General Remarks, 295 Exercises XXV., 296 CHAPTER XIV. DEFINITE INTEGRALS. GEOMETRICAL APPLICATIONS. 124. Definite Integrals. Theorems, 298 125. Related Integrals, 301 126. Infinite Limits. Infinite Integrand, 304 Exercises XX VI., 306 CONTENTS. xvii ART. PAGE 1:27. Some Standard Areas and Volumes. Curve Tracing, . . 309 Exercises XXVII., 312 128. Area of Closed Curves, 316 129. Area Swept out by a Moving Line, 319 130. Planimeters, 321 Exercises XXV III., 322 CHAPTER XV. INTEGRAL AS LIMIT OF A SUM. DOUBLE INTEGRALS. 131. Integral as the Limit of a Sum, ...... 324 132. Examples, 327 133. Approximations. Simpson's Rule, 328 Exercises XXIX., 331 134. Mean Values, 333 135. Double integrals, 334 136. Notations for Double Integrals. Polar Elements. Triple Integrals, 337 137. Centres of Inertia, 341 138. Moments of Inertia, 343 139. Polar Element of Volume. Definition of Line Integral and of Surface Integral, 346 Exercises XXX., 347 Gamma and Beta Functions, 349 CHAPTER XVI. CURVATURE. ENVELOPES. 1 40. Curvature. Fundamental Formula, . . . . 352 141. Circle, Radius, and Centre of Curvature, .... 354 142. Various Formulae for the Curvature. Intrinsic Equation of a Curve, 355 Exercises XXXI. , 359 143. Evolute, Involute, Parallel Curves, 361 144. Envelopes, 364 145. Equation of Envelope. Contact Theorem, .... 365 146. Cycloids. Epicycloids. Hypocycloids, 368 . Exercises XXXII. 371 b xviii AN ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON THE CALCULUS. CHAPTER XVII. INFINITE SERIES. ART. PAGE 147. Infinite Series Convergent, Divergent, Oscillating, . . 375 148. Existence of a Limit. Theorems, 377 149. Tests of Convergence. Fundamental Test ; Comparison Test ; Test Ratio. Remainder 379 150. Absolute Convergence. Power Series, 382 151. Uniform Convergence. Continuity of Series, .... 385 Exercises XXX HI., .... 387 CHAPTER XVIII. TAYLOR'S THEOREM. 152. Taylor's Theorem. Maclaurin's Theorem. Remainder, . 390 153. Examples of Expansions: since, cosa:, e x , (l+x) m , log(l+.r). . 393 154. Calculation of the 7i th Derivative. Examples, . . . 397 155. Differentiation and Integration of Series, .... 399 156. Expansions. Approximations. Examples of Integration of Series, 401 Exercises XXXIV., 403 CHAPTER XIX. TAYLOR'S THEOREM FOR FUNCTIONS OF TWO OR MORE, VARIABLES. APPLICATIONS. 157. Taylor's Theorem for Functions of two or more Variables, . 408 158. Examples : Tangent Plane, Euler's Theorems of Homo- geneous Functions, . . . . . . . .411 159. Maxima and Minima of a Function of two or more Variables, 412 160. Examples. Undetermined Multipliers, . . . . . 414 Exercises XXXV., 416 161. Indeterminate Forms. Elementary Methods, . . . 418 162. Method of the Calculus, 419 Exercises XXX VI., . \ . . . 422 CONTENTS. xb CHAPTER XX. DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS. PAGE Differential Equations. Definitions. Examples, . . . 424 Complete Integral, 426 Exercises XXXV II., .... 427 Equations of the First Order and of the First Degree. Vari- ables Separable. Homogeneous Equations. Linear Equa- tions. Exact Equations, ....... 428 Equations of First Order, but not of First Degree. Clairaut's Equation. Singular Solutions, ...... 431 Equations of the Second Order. Simple Pendulum, . . 432 Linear Equations. General Property 433 The Complementary Function, ...... 434 The Particular Integral, 436 Simultaneous Equations. Example from Electric Circuits, . 437 Exercises XXX VI II., .... 439 ANSWERS, 442 INDEX, ...... 454 SUGGESTIONS FOR FIRST READING. The following order of reading the book may be adopted by students who are just beginning the study of the Calculus : Chapters I.-IV, V. 44-47, VI., VII. 67 (with Exercises XIV. 1-4, 11-14), IX. 74-76 (with Exercises XVIa., XVIb.), 78 (with Exercises XVII. 1-6). This course includes the fundamental properties of the algebraic functions, with several interesting applications. Chapters V. 48-50, VII., VIII., the rest of IX., X., XIII-XV. Chapters XI.-XIL, XVI.-XIX. may be read as the needs of the student demand at any time after Chapters I.-X. have been mastered, and Chapter XX. as soon as some progress has been made in integration. AN ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON THE CALCULUS. CHAPTER I. COORDINATES. FUNCTIONS. 1. Directed Segments or Steps. Let A, B (Fig. 1) be any two points on a straight line. In Elementary Geometry it is customary to denote the segment of the line between A and B by AB or by BA indifferently, the order of the letters being of no consequence. It is useful, however, for many purposes to distinguish the segment traced out by a point which moves along the line from A to B from that traced out by a point which moves from B to A. When this distinction is made, the segment is called a directed segment or vector or step, and the distinction is represented in the symbol for the segment by the order of the letters ; thus, AB denotes the segment traced out by a point which moves from A to B, w r hile BA denotes the segment traced out by a point which moves from B to A. The length of the step AB is the same as that of the step BA , but the steps have opposite directions. A B D 7 C 5 FIG. 1. Two steps AB, CD are defined to be equal if (1) they are on the same straight line or on parallel straight lines, (2) the lengths of AB and CD are equal, and (3) D is on the 2 AN ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON THE CALCULUS. same side of C as B is of A. Thus, if D' be at the same distance from C as D is, but on the opposite side, A B is not equal to CD' but to D'G. The step AB has the same length and the same direction as CD or DC, but though it has the same length as CD, it has not the same direction and is therefore not equal to CD in the sense in which " equal " has been defined for steps. 2. Addition of Steps. Let A, B, C be any three points on a straight line. Whatever be the relative position of the points A, B, C, a point which moves along the line from A to B, and then from B to C, will be at the same distance from A and on the same side of A as if it had moved directly from A to C. AC is therefore taken as the sum of the steps AB and BC, and the operation of addition of steps is defined by the equation AB+BC=AC. When B lies between A and C, the sum of the lengths of the steps AB and BC is equal to the length of the step AC, and therefore in this case addition of steps agrees with the usual geometrical meaning of addition of segments in which length alone is considered. But when B does not lie between A and C, the sum of the lengths of the steps AB and BC is not equal to the length of the step AC. It will be seen immediately that steps can be represented as positive or negative, and that addition of steps corresponds to algebraical addition. If D be any fourth point on the line and in the same way the sum of any number of steps may be defined. To find the sum of AB and CD when B and C are not coincident, take the step BE equal to the step CD ; then AB+CD = AB+BE=AE. If x be any positive number, xAB is a step in the same direction as the step AB, and of a length which is to the length of AB in the ratio of x to 1 ; thus, SAB is a step thrice as long, and in the same direction as the step AB; STEPS. LAWS OF OPERATION. 3 is a step five-thirds of the length of AB and in the same direction. The student will have no difficulty in showing that the commutative and associative laws for the addition of numbers hold for the addition of steps. 3. Symmetric Steps and Subtraction of Steps. If in the first case of the preceding Article the point C be supposed to coincide with A, the step AC becomes the zero-step A A., which is denoted by 0. Hence, in symbols, = AA=0. Similarly, AB+BC+CA=AO+CA = 0. In Algebra the negative number a is defined by the equation In the same way the negative step AB may be defined by the equation as being the step BA ; that is, the step AB is the step BA of the same length in the opposite direction. The symbol + may now be attached to a step AB, and +AB may be called a positive step. The two steps +AB and AB (or BA) are called symmetric steps. Obviously, if two steps are equal, so also are their symmetric steps. The operation of subtraction of a step is defined as the addition of the symmetric step ; in symbols, AC-BC=AC+CB = or, AB-CD = AB+DC=AC', if Precisely as in Algebra, the commutative and associative laws may be shown to hold for subtraction of steps, and there will be no confusion caused by the use of the symbols + and to indicate symmetric steps as well as the operations of addition and subtraction. By the definition of subtraction, if A, B be any two points on a line and any third point, 4 AN ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON THE CALCULUS. 4. Abscissa of a Point. Let be a fixed point on a line X'OX and P, P' two points on opposite sides of but at the same distance from it (Fig. 2); let U be another point on the line on the same side of as P is, say to the right of 0. The steps U, OP have the same sign ; the steps U, OP' have opposite signs. Let U be taken as a standard of length, say 1 inch, and as a standard of direction ; it may therefore be called the unit step. Steps measured like OU to the right will be called positive steps, while those measured to the left will be called negative. Thus OP, P'P are positive, OP', PP' negative steps. X' P' A' U' 6 U ~~A P X FIG. 2. If OP is equal to xO U, then OP'=-P'0=-OP=-xOU. The positive number x is called the abscissa of P with respect to the origin ; the negative number x is called the abscissa of P' with respect to the same origin, and the line X'OX is called the axis of abscissae. Every point of the line to the right of will have a positive number for abscissa, and every point to the left of a negative number ; the abscissa of itself is zero. Thus if OA =20U, the abscissa of A is 2 ; the abscissa of U is 1 ; the abscissae of U' and A', the points symmetric to U and A, are 1 and 2 respectively. As thus defined, the abscissa of a point P is the ratio of OP to the unit step U, taken with the positive or negative sign according as P is to the right or to the left of 0, U being supposed to be to the right of 0. When a point P has the abscissa x, it is convenient to say that the point P and the number x correspond to each other. Thus the point A and the number 2, the point U' and the number 1 , the point and the number correspond to each other. AXIOM. The fundamental axiom on which the application of Algebra to Geometry rests is that, when the origin and FUNDAMENTAL AXIOM. 5 the unit step OU have been fixed, there is a one-to-one correspondence between the points of the axis and the system of real numbers ; that is, to every point on the axis corresponds a definite number, namely the abscissa of the point, and to every number corresponds a point on the axis, namely the point which has the number for abscissa. When the ratio of OP to U is a rational number, that is, a positive or negative integer or fraction, P is determined by laying off OU, or a submultiple of U, a certain number of times along the axis, to the right or to the left, according as the number is positive or negative. Thus if the number be -, we lay off to the left a line equal to 7 times the third part of U. When, however, the ratio of OP to OU is an irrational number, such as ^2 or TT, the position of P may be determined in practice by taking a rational approximation to the irrational number. Thus for TT we may take 31 or 314 or 3142, etc., according to the size of the unit line. Of course, whatever size the unit line may be, a stage is soon reached when the closer approximations become indistinguishable in the diagram ; if the unit be 1 inch it would be difficult to distinguish the points whose abscissae are 314 and 3'142 from each other. Irrational numbers are, however, subject to the same laws of operation as rational numbers, and though in a diagram it may be impossible to distinguish the points corresponding say to TT and 3142 from each other, yet in our reasoning they are to be considered distinct, just as in reasoning about a straight line we consider it to have no breadth, although we cannot represent such a line in a diagram. Ex. 1. Mark the points whose abscissae are : Ex. 2. If x be the abscissa of a point, mark the points which are determined by the equations : = 0; ,r 2 -4=0; 3.r 2 - 4r - 1 = 0. 5. Measure of a Step. If the abscissae of A, B are a, b respectively, then AB=OB-OA = bO U-aOU=(b-a)OU. 6 AN ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON THE CALCULUS. The number b a may be taken as the measure of AB; the numerical value of b a gives the ratio of the length of AB to the length of the unit step U, and the sign of b a gives the direction of AB. Thus if OU be 1 inch, b = 5, a = 2, AB will be 3 inches and B will be to the right of A ; if b = 5, a= 2, AB will be 3 inches long, and since 5 + 2 is negative B will be to the left of A. The unit step OU is generally omitted, and AB is said to be equal to b a. By the definition of the expression " algebraically greater," b is algebraically greater than a when b a is positive; therefore when b is algebraically greater than a, B lies to the right of A. Similarly when 6 is algebraically less than a, B lies to the left of A. We have, therefore, the con- venient relation that the number 6 is algebraically greater or less than the number a, according as the point whose abscissa is 6 lies to the right or to the left of the point whose abscissa is a. Instead of the expression " the point whose abscissa is a" it will be more compact and equally clear to use the phrase " the point a." Ex. 1. Determine in sign and magnitude the step AB for the cases : a \i b = ar >d P the point dividing AB in the ratio of k to 1, show, as in 5, Ex. 3, that the coordinates of P are l+k ' l+k ' What is the sign of k (i) when P lies between A and B, (ii) when P does not lie between A and B ? 7. Distance between two points. Let P (Fig. 5) be the point (x v 2/1). Q the point (x z , y 2 ); draw PM, QN perpendi- cular to X'X, and let PR be drawn parallel to X'X to meet iVQ (or NQ produced) at R. 10 AN ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON THE CALCULUS. Whatever be the relative position of P and Q, we have for the measures of PR, RQ As regards magnitude we have, by Euclid I. 47, and whether the signs of X 2 x^ and y z y\ be positive or nega- tive the squares of these numbers will give the number of square units in the squares described on x PR and RQ. Hence FIG. 5. p(\\ and therefore the length of PQ is where the positive sign must be given to the root. If Q coincide with 0, x? and y z are both zero, and the length of OP is ^(xf + y*). The student should verify the result for different positions of P and Q. Ex. 1. Find the distance between the points (3, 7), (9, 6), the length of the unit being 1 inch. Let the distance be r inches ; then r 2 = (3 -9) 2 + (7-6) 2 = 37 ; r= v /37 = 6'083, so that the distance is 6'083 inches. Ex. 2. Find the distances between the following pairs of points : plot the points in each case. i. (1, 1), (3, 2). ii. ( - 1, 1), (3, 2). iii. ( - 1, 0), (0, 2). iv. (-2, -3), (2, 3). v. Or, -,r), -, Ex. 3. Show that if the point (x, y) be any point on the circle whose radius is 3, and whose centre is the point (2, 1 ), 2 - 4z - 2 - 4 = 0. 8. Polar Coordinates. The position of the point P (Fig. 6) would clearly be determined by the angle which OP makes with the fixed line OX, and by the length of the POLAR COORDINATES. 11 radius OP. We must be clear, however, as to the meaning of the word " angle." Following the usual convention in Trigonometry, we consider the radius OP to be always positive, and define the angle that OP makes with the positive direction of OX as the angle through which a line coinciding with OX (not with OX') has to be turned till it passes through the point P. The angle will be considered positive when the rotation is counter-clockwise. If OP be r units of length and the angle XOP 9 degrees or radians according to the unit of angle adopted, the two numbers r, 6 are called the polar coordinates of P, and P is described as the point (r, 0). (r, 0') ; 6' is negative. p' FIG. 6. Similarly, P' is the point With the usual system of rectangular axes in which OX has to be rotated counter-clockwise through 90 till it coincides with Y, the positive direction of the axis Y' Y, we see that the polar coordinates (r, 0) of P are connected with the rectangular coordinates (x, y) by the equations x = r cos 9, y = r sin 9. These equations, w r hen solved for r and 9 in terms of x and y, give r=+7(a; 2 +2/ 2 ), tan 6> = ^. It must be noted, however, that tan 9 does not definitely determine the angle 9. For if tan 9 be positive we can only infer that P lies in the first or third quadrant, while if tanO be negative that P lies in the second or fourth quadrant. We must consider also the signs of x and y or of cos 9 and sin 9. It is usually most convenient to suppose 9 to vary from 180 to +180 so that a point above the axis X'X has a positive angle, and a point below that axis a negative angle. 12 AN ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON THE CALCULUS. Ex. 1. If P is the point ( - 3, 4), find its polar coordinates (r, 0). ) = 5; tan 6 =-^= - 1'3333 ; (9=126 52'. Since tan is negative, 6 is in the second or fourth quadrant ; but x or cos 6 is negative, and therefore is in the second. Ex. 2. If P is the point (3, 4), show that its polar coordinates are (5, -53 8'). 9. Variable. Continuity. Let A be a fixed point on a line, say, on the a;-axis X'X, and let a point P start from the position A and move steadily along the axis, say to the right, till it reaches another position B. The segment AB described by the point P is the most perfect type of a continuous magnitude ; there is no gap or break in it. As P moves from A to B, the step AP steadily increases ; AP is a continuously varying magnitude during the motion of P. If a, b are the abscissae of A, B, and x the abscissa of P at any stage of the motion, then, as P moves from A. to B, since AP = x a* x steadily increases (algebraically) from a to 6 ; a; is a continuously varying number or, more briefly stated, x is a continuous variable. Again, since P coincides in succession with every point lying between A and B, so x assumes in succession every value lying between a and b. If a be negative and b positive, A will be to the left and B to the right of the origin 0, and when P passes through 0, x will be zero so that as x passes from negative to positive values it passes through the value zero. Had P instead of moving always to the right moved sometimes forward, sometimes back- ward, then every time it passed through the value of x would have been zero, so that x would only change from negative to positive or from positive to negative by passing through zero. We will assume then, as characteristic of a continuous variable, that as it varies continuously from a value a to a value b it assumes once at least every value inter- *Here, and in similar cases, it is the measure of the step AP that is of importance ; it will cause no confusion to let AP stand for the step, and also for the measure of the step as is usually done in all applications of geometrical theorems. VARIABLE. CONTINUITY. 13 mediate to a and b ; if one of these values, say a, be negative and the other positive, one of the values the variable takes will be zero. 10. Geometrical Representation of Magnitudes. The measure x of any magnitude A is the ratio of A to another magnitude U of the same kind that is chosen as the unit. If then on any axis a unit step U is taken as representing the unit magnitude U, the step OM where OM is equal to xOU will represent the magnitude A. There is thus established a correspondence between the magnitudes of the particular kind considered and the points of the axis ; the point 1 corresponds to the unit magnitude U, the point 2 to the magnitude 2 U, and so on. Many of the magnitudes considered in Geometry and Physics, for example, lines, angles, velocities, forces, are often treated as directed magnitudes, and their measures may then be either positive or negative; when the meas- ures are negative, the points that correspond to the magni- tudes will lie on the opposite side of from that on which U lies. A variable magnitude P will be represented by a variable segment OP, and when the magnitude varies continuously the point P will trace out a continuous segment of the axis. For purposes of calculation it is the measure of the magnitude that is of importance, and, to avoid a tedious prolixity of statement, such an expression as " a velocity v " will often be used in the sense " a velocity whose measure is v units of velocity." Of course in all cases care should be taken to prevent ambiguity as to the units .employed. 11. Function. Dependent and Independent Variables. In any problem the magnitudes dealt with will usually be of two classes, namely, those that retain the same value all through the investigation and those that are supposed to take different values: the former are called constants, the latter variables. It has become customary to denote con- stants by the earlier letters of the alphabet, a, b, c, . . . , and variables by the later letters, z,y,x,.... Of course when there is any advantage in denoting a variable by a or a constant by z there is no reason against doing so. 14 AN ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON THE CALCULUS. Again, taking first the case of only two variables, it will usually happen that when one of the variables is given a series of values the other variable will take a series of definite values, one for each that the first is supposed to have been given. The second variable is then said to be a function of the first, or to be a variable dependent on the first, which is distinguished as the independent variable. Instead of the phrase " independent variable," the word argument is often used, and the dependent variable is then called a function of its argument. Thus, if. we consider a series of triangles, all of the same altitude, the area of any triangle is a function of its base. The distance travelled by a train which moves at a constant speed is a function of the time during which it has moved at that speed. The pressure of a given quantity of gas which is maintained at a constant temperature is a function of its volume. In these examples the independent variable or argument is the base, the time, the volume ; and the dependent variable or function is the area, the distance, the pressure respectively. It is usually a mere matter of convenience which of the two variables is considered as independent. Thus if the time at which the train passed certain stations on the railroad were the subject of inquiry, the distance would be taken as the independent variable and the time as the dependent. When there are more than two variables it may happen that when definite values are assigned to all but one of them the value of that one becomes determinate ; this one variable is then said to be a function of or to be dependent on the other variables which are called the independent variables of the problem. Thus the area of a triangle is a function of the base and of the altitude when both base and altitude vary. The pressure of a given quantity of gas is a function of the volume and of the temperature when both volume and temperature vary. Generally, a variable y is said to be a function of another variable x when to every value of x there corresponds a definite value of y; a, variable y is said to be a function of two or more ARGUMENT. FUNCTION. 15 variables, x, u, ..., when to each set of values of the variables x, u, ... there corresponds a definite value of y. While it is important to keep this general notion of functional dependence in mind, it will, however, be usually assumed that a function is defined by an equation (see 13, 26, 27, 28), and that it can be represented by a graph ( 16). This assumption implies (i) that as the argument varies continuously, in the sense explained in 9, from a value a to a value b, the function also varies continuously from a value, A say, to a value B ; (ii) that to a small change in the argument corresponds also a small change in the function. The assumption implies a good deal more than what is here stated, but at this stage the student is earnestly urged to pass lightly over the purely theoretical difficulties and to try to get a thorough grasp of the fundamental conceptions of variation and functional dependence by working out for himself the graphical exercises in the next chapter. He will find by trial that, except for special values of the argument, the property (ii) is actually found in all the ordinary functions ; the pro- perty (i), though apparently simpler, is really much harder to demonstrate mathematically. A mathematical definition of the continuity of a dependent variable will be given in Chapter V, 44. The student should notice the phrase " definite value " or " determinate value." It may happen that the analytical expression for a function ceases to have meaning for certain values of the argument ; for these values, therefore, the function is not defined. Thus the function (x 2 l)/(x 1) is defined for all values of x, except the value 1 ; because when x = \ the expression takes the form 0/0, which is absolutely meaningless. We should not get out of the difficulty by first dividing numerator and denominator by x 1 and then putting 1 for x ; because in dividing by x 1 we assume that x I is not zero, division by zero being excluded by the fundamental laws of algebra. Again, such a function as ^(lx 2 ) is only defined for values of x that are numerically less than or equal to 1 ; in this case we may say that the function is defined for values of the argument in the range from 1 to +1 inclusive. 16 AN ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON THE CALCULUS. It has always to be understood in reasoning about a function that only those values of the argument are to be considered for which the function has a definite value, or, in other words, for which the function is well-defined. 12. Notation for Functions. A function of a variable is often denoted by enclosing the variable in a bracket and prefixing a letter; thus, f(x\ F(x),
are functional symbols, not
multipliers ; the symbol f(x) must be taken as a whole,
and means simply " some function of x," the context or
some explicit statement determining which particular
function is meant. For different functions occurring in
the same investigation different functional symbols must
of course be used.
/(a) means " the value of the function /(a?) when x has
the value a," or " the value of the function f(x) when x is
replaced by a." Thus, if f(x) denote the function
then /(0)=-1; /(l)=-3; f
/(a; 2 ) = O 2 ) 2 - 3 2 - 1 = a 4 - So; 2 - 1.
A similar notation is used for functions of two or more
variables ; thus, f(x, y), F(p, v), )] = Sf(x) + 8F(x) - S (a) = h(f>(a + Oh).
248 AN ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON THE CALCULUS.
Using the terms " greater " and " less " to mean numeri-
cally " greater " and " less," we see that if, for every value
of x that is nearer to a than a is, (j>(x) is less than a proper
fraction m, the difference between a and (oC) is less than
that between a and a. Hence = tan ~ J ( - ) Hence
x \x/
putting c for TI-TT + Tr/2 we have
x = c tan ~ l ( - }
\x/
It is shown in a later chapter that
-J-...!..-!.
x Sec 3 5x 5 Ix 1
so that x = c 1-?;-* 7r-? + ~- 7
x Sx 3 5o? 6 7a; 7
The equation may be solved by the method of last article,
since x is, even for n = 2, greater than 7'5, and therefore
l/x fairly small.
1st. App. x = c;
2nd. App. x = c ;
3rd. App. x = c
EXERCISES XX. 253
/ 1 2 V 1 1 / 1\~ 3 1
4th. App. x = c-c---
-
5C 5 '
12 13
C ~~ ~~ ^~ ^ o "~~ ^T~i P I
c 3c 3 loc 5
1 2 13 146
5th. App. x = c--- s -TR-6-:
-_-_-
For 7i = 2, 3, 4,..., this last approximation is amply
sufficient for all practical purposes. The student may
show that X/TT has the values 1*4303, 2-4590, 3*4709, 4'4747,
5-4818, 6-4844, for n = l, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. [Rayleigh's Sound,
I., p. 334 (2nd Ed.).]
Many equations involving trigonometric and exponential
functions were discussed by Euler, and the general solution
of the equation x = tan x is due to him.
EXERCISES XX.
In the following examples it will usually be sufficient to calculate
the root to 3 or 4 decimal places ; in some cases the results are given
to more figures.
1. Find the real root of 3^ + 5^-40=0.
2. A sphere of radius 1 is divided by a plane into two parts whose
volumes are in the ratio of 1 to 2 ; the distance x of the plane from
the centre of the sphere is a root of the equation Sx 3 9#+2 = 0.
Find x.
3. Find the root of ^-4^-7^+24=0 that lies between 2 and 3.
4. If (!+#)* = 27 -34, find.*:.
5. If 10* =20^, find.r.
6. The chord AB of a circle, centre (7, bisects the sector ACB; if the
angle A CB is x radians, show that x = 2 sin x and find x.
7. Solve the equation x=cosx.
8. The equation 2.r=tan;3; has one root between and ?r/2 and
another between TT and 3:r/2 ; find both roots.
9. Show how to solve the equation
/ . _i\
t I=a(e 2a -e "*)
for a when I and c are given, I being not much greater than c ; for
example, c=100, = 105. The value of a determines the catenary
254 AN ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON THE CALCULUS.
assumed by a string of length I hanging from two points in a hori-
zontal line distant c from each other.
10. Find the least roots of
(i) (e x +e-*)cos^-2 = 0; (ii) (e*+e- x )cosx+2 = 0.
Obviously zero is a root of (i) ; find the next smallest root.
11. Solve x a sin x =b
where a = '245316, 6 = 5-755067.
12. Show that the approximations to the root a of x= 0) ; 2. / e~ ax sin bx dx (a > 0) ;
Jo Jo
/fj rv* [
^ ; 4 /
oo^ 2 + 2A' + 2 " Jo
dx
xdx
EXERCISES XXVI. 307
8. *-<.)*-,&; 9.
10 f* dx 11
' Jo a 2 ' "
in Pcos-x sin .r cfcr
" Jo ; ''
14. / tonxdx; 15. / log-refo;; 16. / a?\ogxdx.
J-* Jo Jo
17. Prove that if m and n are positive,
/ '^"(l -x) n dx= I V(l -;r) m rf.r.
Jo .'o
18. Prove that if n is positive,
/OO /-50
/ e~ z x n dx=nl e~ x x n ~ l dx.
Jo Jo
Find the value of the integral if n is a positive integer.
,_ T . [*x sin x dx
19. If = / T
Jo l+
,, .
prove that u
- - H ,
l+cos 2 a;
and then find the value of u.
20. If w= f , X X . where 0 z ^ dxd y dz or \f( x >y' 2 ) dv ( ]1 )
dx dy dz or dv may be taken as an element of volume, and
f(x, y, 0) might, for example, denote the density at (x, y, z).
Integration with respect to 0, keeping x, y constant, would
give the mass of the column standing on the base dx dy ;
then the y -integration, keeping x constant, would give the
mass of a slice of thickness dx perpendicular to the a>axis,
and lastly the ^-integration would give the total mass.
TRIPLE INTEGRALS. EXAMPLES.
339
Ex. 1. Find the volume of the tetrahedron bounded by the
coordinate planes and the
plane Z
JC
where a, b, c are positive.
The curve EFGH is in
this case the triangle
OAB ; the equation of
AB is
and
y = b(\-xla)
' = b(l-x/a),
while MP in 135 is here
zero.
SR=f(x,y)=z
=c(l-xfa-ylb).
Hence using (5), the
volume is
[ a s I*** f a j
/ dx\ zdy=c\ dx
Jo Jo * Jo
T.
-- I dx=- B abc.
a) 6
Obviously \bc(l -xjaf is the area of the triangle LMP'.
Ex. 2. Find the value of / x 2 dv taken throughout the volume of
the ellipsoid x?/a z +y 2 /b 2 +z z /(?=l.
= Ix^dx ffdydz = [" x*dx
since, in integrating as to y and 0, x is constant and / \dydz is the
area of the section perpendicular to the #-axis. Integrate now as to
x ; the result is 47ra*6c/15.
The mean value of the function x 2 throughout the volume of the
ellipsoid is the above value divided by the volume, that is, 2 /5.
In general, the mean value of a function /(#, y) over an area EFGH
(Fig. 77) is the value of the integral (5) or (6) divided by the area ;
and a similar definition holds for the mean value throughout a volume.
If, in the example, x 2 is the density at (x, y, z) of a mass occupying the
volume of the ellipsoid, then a 2 /5 is the mean density of the mass.
340 AN ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON THE CALCULUS.
Ex. 3. If f(x, y) is the product of a function <$>(x) of x alone, and
of a function ^r(y) of y alone, it follows at once from 135 that the
integral of the product <$>(x) ^s(y) taken over the rectangle A 1 S 1 C 1 D 1
(Fig. 77) is equal to the product of the integrals
ft rv
I d(ff d(f> >-
16. With the same notation as in the last two examples, show that
the projection of OC, where C is the centre of curvature, on PC, is
and that
EXERCISES XXXII. 373
17. Show that the radius of curvature of the evolute of a curve is
pdp/ds, where p is the radius of curvature at the corresponding point
on the given curve.
Use 143, (ii) ; d(f> is the same for curve and evolute.
18. If A is the area between a curve, its evolute and two radii of
curvature, show that
d.r. 2 dx 2\ \dx) / ' dx l
19. ABC is an arc of a circle whose centre is and radius a ; CP is
the tangent at C and AP a part of an involute of the circle. Taking
OA as the j?-axis and putting < for the angle AOC, show that the
coordinates (#, y) of P are
#= a cos < + ( sin <, y = a sin < a^> cos $,
and that the intrinsic equation of the involute is
All the involutes of a circle are identically equal, so that we may
speak of the involute of a circle.
20. Show that the p, r equation of the involute of a circle is
r 2 p 1 + a' 2 .
21. The total length of the evolute of an ellipse is
4(a?-b 3 )/ab.
22. The intrinsic equation of the cycloid, when the vertex A is
the origin of s and the tangent A T the fixed tangent (Fig. 85) is
s=4a sin we may omit the subscript
"71=00."
THEOREM I. // s n is a function of n that (i) always
increases as n increases, but (ii) always remains less than
378 AN ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON THE CALCULUS.
a definite quantity a, then as n increases indefinitely s n ivill
tend to a definite limit that is less than or equal to a.
THEOREM II. If s n is a function of n that (i) always
decreases as n increases, but (ii) always remains greater
than a definite quantity b, then as n increases indefinitely
s n will tend to a definite limit that is greater than or equal
tob.
THEOREM III. The necessary and sufficient condition
that s n should, as n increases indefinitely, tend to a definite
limit is that the limit for n infinite of (s n+p s n ) should be
zero for every value of the integer p ; or, in other words,
given an arbitrarily small positive quantity e it must be
possible to choose n, say n = m, such that when n>m the
difference (s n+p s n ) shall be numerically less than e, what-
ever value the integer p may have.
We do not propose to prove these theorems ; the first and second
have been given as exercises (Exer. VII., 14, 15), and the geometrical
illustration there given affords some justification for assuming them.
As to the third theorem it is easy to see that the condition stated is
necessary. For, if s n has a definite limit s, then since
Sn+p ~ S n = (n+p -) + (*- *),
we have
L (s n+p - s n ) = L (*+ - s) + L (s - s,,) = 0.
To illustrate the sufficiency of the condition, take on the ^7-axis the
points J.j, A 2 , A 3 , ..., which have s v 2 , 3 , ... as abscissae. In this
case A n+l may be either to the right or to the left of A n , since s n does
not necessarily either always increase or always decrease as n increases.
But, by hypothesis, if n^.m,
s n + P -s n \ < f>'( x )> ^( x ), ty'( x ) are continuous
for the range a^x^b and if \js'(x) is not zero so long as
a (x) x ^( x l the increment is positive, so that x has increased
algebraically ; if a;, < x l the increment is negative, so that
t'las decreased algebraically. In both cases the one word
G.C. E
66 AN ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON THE CALCULUS.
"increment" is used, so that a negative increment is an
algebraic decrease.
Since x 2 x l = Sx^ we have x z = x l -\- Sx v so that if x change
from the value x l to another value and if the increment
that x takes is Sx l that other value is x l + Sx l ; the student
must accustom himself to this method of denoting the
value to which x changes, for although x 1 + Sx^_ seems more
cumbrous than x 2 its form is more suggestive and is really
simpler in many investigations.
Let y be a function of x, say 5x 3, and let x v y l be
corresponding values of x and y. When x changes from
x 1 to x l + Sx l let y take the increment Sy v so that the value
of y corresponding to # t + Sx l is y l + Sy l ; then
and therefore Sy l = 58x v
If 2/ = 3# 2 + 7a: 2, we find, using the same notation,
y 1 = S^ 2 + 7x l - 2 ; ^ + Sy 1 = 3^ + SxJ* + 7(x : + SxJ - 2,
and therefore, by subtracting the left side of the first
equation from the left side of the second, and the right
side of the first from the right side of the second,
In general, if y=f(x), we have
<^i =/(*i + &i) -M) = M).
The same notation is used whatever letters denote the
variables, so that if s =