Question

What is the difference between x and dx?

Answer 1

This response is based upon your having had some background in calculus. "dx" is not introduced before that.

Take a look at the sample function y = f(x) = x^2 + 9. Here x is the independent variable; the dependent variable y changes with x.

Now, for a big jump: we consider finding the area under a curve (graph) between x = a and x = b. We subdivide that interval [a,b] into n vertical slices of area. Each of those slices has its own area: f(x)*dx, where dx represents the width of such subarea. f(x)*dx is the actual subarea. To find the total area under the curve f(x) between x= a and x = b, we add up all of these individual subareas between x = a and x = b. Note that the subinterval width is

b-a

dx = ---------- , and that dx becomes smaller and smaller as the number of

n subintervals increases.

Once again, this all makes sense only if you've begun calculus (particularly integral calculus). Do not try to relate it to earlier math courses.