Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:
> I'm not sure they teach calculus *currently* in schools. Then again, I'm
> not sure because I didn't attend a normal school... I think in this
> country, if you want to learn about mathematics (not just arithmetic),
> you have to take a special course. I think it's outside the normal
> school curriculum.

Depends what you mean by 'school'. Derivatives (including the chain rule!),
integrals, and even differential equations were all on the maths A-level
syllabus that I did (I would hope that they still are!). I did my A-levels at
school, but I think many people go to college to study A-levels if their school
does not offer them.

Note that an A-level college is usually *not* the same thing as a university
(cue lengthy debate on schooling ages/terminology in different countries!).

> (Or you're an academic, which nobody is.)

I believe there are many regular posters here who might disagree with that! :-)

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> Depends what you mean by 'school'. Derivatives (including the chain 
> rule!),
> integrals, and even differential equations were all on the maths A-level
> syllabus that I did (I would hope that they still are!).

They were when I did my maths A levels (1999).

> Note that an A-level college is usually *not* the same thing as a 
> university
> (cue lengthy debate on schooling ages/terminology in different 
> countries!).

Hehe yes, I went to a sixth form college to do my A levels because schools 
in my area tended to finish at 16 and not offer A levels at all.  Then I 
left this college at 18 to go to another college, which was part of a 
university - grande confusione!

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Invisible wrote:
> Suppose that the first derivative of f(x) is g(x).
> 
> What the hell is the derivative of f(f(x))?

Unrelated to your question, but when I read the topic I first thought 
you were after the n-th derivative of some function...

For example, deriving n times f(x)*g(x) has a fun formula :-)

-- 
Vincent

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>> Depends what you mean by 'school'. Derivatives (including the chain 
>> rule!),
>> integrals, and even differential equations were all on the maths A-level
>> syllabus that I did (I would hope that they still are!).
> 
> They were when I did my maths A levels (1999).

I don't *have* any A-levels, so I wouldn't know what is or isn't 
included there.

(You get to choose which ones you want to do though, right?)

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Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:
> >> Depends what you mean by 'school'. Derivatives (including the chain
> >> rule!),
> >> integrals, and even differential equations were all on the maths A-level
> >> syllabus that I did (I would hope that they still are!).
> >
> > They were when I did my maths A levels (1999).
>
> I don't *have* any A-levels, so I wouldn't know what is or isn't
> included there.
>
> (You get to choose which ones you want to do though, right?)

Yep. As scott said, any education beyond 16 is optional in the UK. If you were
so inclined, there'd be nothing to stop you doing a maths A-level now - many
people do. I suspect you'd find much of it relatively easy, and you'd definitely
find the calculus interesting and useful! No idea what it might cost tho.

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"scott" <sco### [at] scottcom> wrote:
> > Depends what you mean by 'school'. Derivatives (including the chain
> > rule!),
> > integrals, and even differential equations were all on the maths A-level
> > syllabus that I did (I would hope that they still are!).
>
> They were when I did my maths A levels (1999).

I think the structure of A-levels changed in 2000 (more continuous assessment
instead of oodles of exams after 2 years), but I expect it's broadly the same.

> Hehe yes, I went to a sixth form college to do my A levels because schools
> in my area tended to finish at 16 and not offer A levels at all.  Then I
> left this college at 18 to go to another college, which was part of a
> university - grande confusione!

Indeed. And of course many universities have the word 'college' in their names,
especially the younger ex-polytechnics, confusing the issue still further!

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>>>> Depends what you mean by 'school'. Derivatives (including the chain
>>>> rule!),
>>>> integrals, and even differential equations were all on the maths A-level
>>>> syllabus that I did (I would hope that they still are!).
>>> They were when I did my maths A levels (1999).
>> I don't *have* any A-levels, so I wouldn't know what is or isn't
>> included there.
>>
>> (You get to choose which ones you want to do though, right?)
> 
> Yep. As scott said, any education beyond 16 is optional in the UK. If you were
> so inclined, there'd be nothing to stop you doing a maths A-level now - many
> people do. I suspect you'd find much of it relatively easy, and you'd definitely
> find the calculus interesting and useful! No idea what it might cost tho.

...all of which seems to support my assessment of "calculus is no longer 
part of standard school education".

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Invisible wrote:
> What the hell is the derivative of f(f(x))?

LMATFY

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=derivative+of+f(f(x))

-- 
   Darren New, San Diego CA, USA (PST)
   I ordered stamps from Zazzle that read "Place Stamp Here".

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Fredrik Eriksson wrote:
> Except that it is the wrong answer, or rather the wrong question. 
> Wolfram thought you meant (f <dot> f)(x), when what you actually meant 
> was (f <circle> f)(x).

Which just goes to show the problem I have with 90% of all matehmatical 
notation. It's so utterly inconsistent that even something like (f(f(x))) is 
ambiguous.

-- 
   Darren New, San Diego CA, USA (PST)
   I ordered stamps from Zazzle that read "Place Stamp Here".

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Darren New wrote:
> Invisible wrote:
>> What the hell is the derivative of f(f(x))?
> 
> LMATFY
> 
> http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=derivative+of+f(f(x))

FAIL.

The correct query is of course

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=derivative+of+f[f[x]]

Nice try tho. :-P

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