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Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Calculus 1C: Coordinate Systems & Infinite Series

Massachusetts Institute of Technology via edX

This course may be unavailable.

Overview

How did Newton describe the orbits of the planets? To do this, he created calculus. But he used a different coordinate system more appropriate for planetary motion. We will learn to shift our perspective to do calculus with parameterized curves and polar coordinates. And then we will dive deep into exploring the infinite to gain a deeper understanding and powerful descriptions of functions.

How does a computer make accurate computations? Absolute precision does not exist in the real world, and computers cannot handle infinitesimals or infinity. Fortunately, just as we approximate numbers using the decimal system, we can approximate functions using series of much simpler functions. These approximations provide a powerful framework for scientific computing and still give highly accurate results. They allow us to solve all sorts of engineering problems based on models of our world represented in the language of calculus.

  1. Changing Perspectives
    1. Parametric Equations
    2. Polar Coordinates
  2. Series and Polynomial Approximations
    1. Series and Convergence
    2. Taylor Series and Power Series

The three modules in this series are being offered as an XSeries on edX. Please visit Single Variable Calculus XSeries Program Page to learn more and to enroll in the modules.

This course, in combination with Parts 1 and 2, covers the AP* Calculus BC curriculum.

Learn more about our High School and AP* Exam Preparation Courses

This course was funded in part by the Wertheimer Fund.

*Advanced Placement and AP are registered trademarks of the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, these offerings.

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Taught by

David Jerison

Reviews

5.0 rating, based on 3 Class Central reviews

Start your review of Calculus 1C: Coordinate Systems & Infinite Series

  • Archil Zhvania
    I completed this course as an audit learner and I loved it. The course is well structured, contains a lot of information, and the teaching methodology is top level. They give you a lot of quizzes and homework problems, which help you test the knowle…
  • Dna47a
    Another excellent MIT course. The videos, exercises and the problem sets are too good. Add to all this a lively discussion forum where the staff and TA's are always there to help you out.
  • Dennis B. Mendiola

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