So my next question is kind of idiotic: why does one say "take the integral of [function] with respect to x"? Does this mean that that they want the area between the curve and the x axis?
All right, last question: Leibniz's notation for derivatives doesn't exactly make sense to me. Is "dy/dx" a random way of saying Newton's "f'(x)"? Or what's the meaning?
@SirCumference You should think of $\mathrm{d}x$ as an infinitesimal change in $x$. Likewise, $\mathrm{d}f$ is the infinitesimal change in $f$ when $x$ changes by $\mathrm{d}x$ - think of $\mathrm{d}f = f(x+\mathrm{d}x)-f(x)$. Now writing $\mathrm{d}f/\mathrm{d}x$ for the derivative is supposed to symbolize that the derivative is the slope of the function at that point, like the slope of a linear function is $\frac{f(x+\mathrm{d}x)-f(x)}{\mathrm{d}x}$ for a real number $\mathrm{d}x$.
@SirCumference Yes, the $\mathrm{d}$ is supposed to represent that. It doesn't work rigorously like that without much further effort, though. Just accept writing $\mathrm{d}x$ as a single symbol, and don't think of the $\mathrm{d}$ as being something applied to $x$.
@BernardMeurer honestly it's better for your own mental state if you don't worry about things or constantly try to quantify whether or not you can get in
I'm only saying that because I'm the same way
and it just doesn't help at all
until you get an email from them about admissions decisions just don't read into any of their general emails
I was wondering if it was accepted. In my case, for instance, I asked a question in other SE site (astronomy) that would be also on topic here. Unfortunately it didn't get much attention since that site is smaller. I was wondering if I could ask it here too. I've read the FAQ and it doesn't seem ...