Summary

Calculus is a very powerful set of tools for modeling real situations, from the transfer of heat to the motion of planets. It has enabled us to calculate the rate of change of a function in an instant and the area under complicated curves (tasks that seemed impossible using only the tools of algebra and geometry). In this chapter, we've been able to deal with the rate of change of a value (the derivative) as a value in itself, and we've calculated some very accurate results using Python loops and functions. Modeling situations that lead to differential equations, such as the paths of projectiles, was what drove the development of the first electronic computers.

Math classes may still emphasize algebraic solutions to equations, even differential equations, but as we've seen in this chapter, using a computer is a straightforward way to model a real-life situation such as a predator pursuing its prey. We changed variables such as the amount of money in an investment...