Anahí Seri Aug 3, 2018:

where? "I presume here we're using the word calculate"

Where's the word, John?

John Druce Aug 3, 2018:

Just brushing up a little bit on the definitions (I've also put integral calculus a long way behind me)

From wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improper_integral):

"an improper integral is the limit of a definite integral as an endpoint of the interval(s) of integration approaches either a specified real number, positive or negative infinity, or in some instances as both endpoints approach limits"

And sos math (http://www.sosmath.com/calculus/improper/convdiv/convdiv.htm... explains how improper integrals can be convergent (the limit exists and is a number) or divergent (limit does not exist or is infinite).

I presume here we're using the word calculate to refer to getting a numerical value, but in the case of an improper integral, this isn't always possible. So the course would be talking about calculating only convergent improper integrals (but convergent isn't specified in the source text).

There are tests to apply to establish whether the improper integral converges or not, and these would fall under calculus, not a calculation. This is what I think they're talking about in the course (i.e. rules, theory and proofs of why it is the way it is)...and that is calculus.

Charles Davis Aug 3, 2018:

So do I My first reaction was that in this context it probably meant calculus, referring to the theory of how to do it rather than the practical process of doing it (especially bearing in mind the theoretical orientation of Hispanic education in general), but it must be said that if you look at course descriptions in English-speaking countries "calculation" is a lot more common in this context. However, that is not decisive, and may reflect the kind of cultural difference I've suggested.

Anahí Seri Aug 3, 2018:

yes Absolutely agree with John

John Druce Aug 3, 2018:

Perhaps we need some more context here.

When I used to write course descriptions, we would provide a list of topics to be covered, and a set of learning objectives (i.e. specific things students would be able to do at the end of the course and be examined on).

If its the first of these (the list of topics to be covered), and the text is referring to the general topic of how to handle definite and improper integrals, the rules for manipulating them, the proofs of various relationships and so on, then "calculus" would be the right word.

If the text is referring to the learning objective of teaching the specific procedure to do the calculations (i.e. accepting all the theory straight away, and not going into the proofs and derivations), then it would not be calculus, but in this case that you should note that it seems to be more common to use the word "evaluate" for these calculations.

I'm guessing this is a list, so it might help to have the context before and after this sentence. Are there other items in the the list above / below this sentence? I could also see this being a heading with more text explaining the specifics of what this module would involve.