The hitchhiker's guide to calculus cover

The hitchhiker's guide to calculus

by Michael Spivak

The Hitchhiker's Guide to Calculus begins with a rapid view of lines and slope. Spivak then takes up non-linear functions and trigonometric functions. He places the magnifying glass on curves in the next chapter and effortlessly leads the reader to the idea of derivative. In the next chapter he tackles speed and velocity, followed by the derivative of sine. Maxima and minima are next. Rolle's theorem and the MVT form the core of Chapter 11, "Watching Experts at Play." The Hitchhiker's Guide to Calculus closes with a chapter on the integral, the fundamental theorem, and applications of the integral.

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Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

  1. Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
  2. Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
  3. What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
  4. If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
  5. Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?