Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

> dx has no meaning in standard calculus

Sure it does. There is no need to know about smooth manifolds or differential forms to understand the differential of a function of one variable at a point and the meaning of dy = f’(x)dx.



What is the meaning then?

dy = f'(x)dx is just a definition for notional convenience, primarily employed when doing u or u-v substitution. My point is that dx in single variable calculus is notation. It is not an intrinsic object. dx is an intrinsic object as a differential form on a smooth manifold. Of course, the real line R is a 1-manifold, so dx does have that meaning, but you need to understand what a differential form is to know that.

One doesn't necessarily need the full generality of smooth manifolds though. Harold Edwards' Advanced Calculus: A Differential Forms Approach and Advanced Calculus: A Geometric View teach differential forms for Euclidean manifolds.


I think I get your point, but at the same time I disagree.

1) The differential of a function (at a point), dy, is not notation, it is a concept.

2) The differential of the function y = x, dx, is not, then, a notation, either; and, since the derivative is 1, dx = 1 Δx = Δx = x - x0.

3) You can argue, of course, that using dx instead of Δx in dy = f'(x)dx is "notation," but I think the above shows that it is more than that.


The second book is by James Callahan. I accidentally left that off.


Can you please point me to a resource that explains all possible operations with “dx” and their conceptual meaning.


Any introductory calculus book worth the paper it’s printed on would gladly tell you that the differential of the function y = x at a point x0 is nothing more than x - x0 and that you do not have to think about it as something that is “infinitely small” or anything equally mysterious. (Some would even go as far as saying that “the differential of a function of one variable is a linear map of the increment of the argument.”) So, with dx = x - x0, you can do with it anything you want, even divide by it (assuming that dx stays non-zero).




Consider applying for YC's Winter 2026 batch! Applications are open till Nov 10

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: