The Six Pillars of Calculus: Biology Edition

The Six Pillars of Calculus: Biology Edition is a conceptual and practical introduction to differential and integral calculus for use in a one- or two-semester course. By boiling calculus down to six common-sense ideas, the text invites students to make calculus an integral part of how they view the world. Each pillar is introduced by tackling and solving a challenging, realistic problem. This engaging process of discovery encourages students to wrestle with the material and understand the reasoning behind the techniques they are learning―to focus on when and why to use the tools of calculus, not just on how to apply formulas. Modeling and differential equations are front and center. Solutions begin with numerical approximations; derivatives and integrals emerge naturally as refinements of those approximations. Students use and modify computer programs to reinforce their understanding of each algorithm. The Biology Edition of the Six Pillars series has been extensively field-tested at the University of Texas. It features hundreds of examples and problems specifically designed for students in the life sciences. The core ideas are introduced by modeling the spread of disease, tracking changes in the amount of $mathrm{CO}_{2}$ in the atmosphere, and optimizing blood flow in the body. Along the way, students learn about optimal drug delivery, population dynamics, chemical equilibria, and probability.