JOIN USToday, Calculus has invaded most fields of study like economics, business, psychology, biology and medicine.
For some, it is a subject they love, while for others it is not. However, if you are looking to learn more about the subject or even rekindle your love with the subject, many would be happy to hear that learning Calculus is really not out of reach.
This can be seen in a recently released book, Zombies and Calculus by Colin Adams, a Mathematics professor and writer. In this story, the author introduces the concepts of Calculus effortlessly in a way that everyone can understand. It also shows that Calculus is, in fact, easy and applicable in varied spheres of life.
The story begins when Maths professor Craig Williams’ (the protagonist) calculus class is interrupted by a late-arriving student who attacks another student. However, everything is not as it seems. The student, in fact, is a zombie. This is what the book focuses on: how the small university community is fighting to survive a global virus attack that is turning people into zombies.
As the zombie crisis grows larger, Craig uses Calculus to help his small band of survivors defeat hordes of the undead. The plot takes unusual turns and every corner presents a mathematical question — but the story stays credible and consistent, and introduces the ideas of Calculus with simplicity and clarity.
It is a Maths book, of course, with detailed footnotes to inspire current and past students to enjoy the field. However, the book can also be read by those who have little knowledge of Calculus. If anything does get confusing, its appendices are a handy reference.
Exponential growth
Along the way, readers learn how to avoid being attacked or be ‘eaten’ by the zombies. All this is done by simply putting into practice a few Calculus ideas. The first maths idea that is introduced is how fast the zombie population is growing. If each zombie infected five persons each day, the numbers infected would grow to 3,125 in just five days and in the next five days, to nearly 10 million.
This would be a case of exponential growth, where the quantum of increase in a quantity increases as fast as the quantity itself is increasing. Put simply, they are using the exponential growth theory to determine the rate at which the virus is spreading.
As this cannot continue for long, it enables the group to manage the crisis rather than trying to escape. For example, one of the first things that they tried to think of was how one can defend themselves when they are facing a zombie. In this light, a paper weight in a nylon stocking was devised as a weapon.
Implementing a Calculus concept, Craig explains that by swinging this around, it can create enough impact to crack the average zombie skull.
As they come up with more and more solutions in a mathematical manner, a question arose among the group: what percent of humans may not be fast enough to get away, if chased by a zombie? As zombies always move directly towards the target, Craig shows through Calculus that if a person who is just faster than zombies moves in a circle, the zombies would continuously head towards the person and fall into a smaller circle, and never catch up. Using this logic, they were able to save one of their colleagues who had been trapped.
In short, this book is all about how Maths helps the surviving humans to find safe areas to hide in and how they can help keep the zombie population in check. While the readers can get a better understanding of Calculus, Colin Adams’ book also helps many to appreciate the subject even more as it can help us deal more effectively with real-world problems that are less frightening, but equally vexatious. Who knows, it can even help us out if there is ever a real life zombie attack!
This book can be read by those who have recently discovered Calculus or want to know more and also for those who have a more advanced understanding.