What is the Derivative of Memory?
Over burgers last night, Scotty asked me about my first-semester classes at business school next year. When I mentioned that Calculus is required, and used a great deal in Economics, he said, "What do you need to know about Calculus?"
"Well, derivatives are really important," I responded, trying to remember some of the common terms from my calc class two years ago.
He looked puzzled. "And what exactly is that?"
As I opened my mouth to respond as I usually do when asked about topics from past classes - 'I don't remember' - I realized that I actually did remember. "It's how to determine the slope of a line at a single point," I started, and the more I described its function, the more I could recall about derivatives and how to solve for them. All sorts of related information came to the surface, like 'rise over run', and y=mx+b. I couldn't believe it.
After that conversation, I felt a million times more relaxed about b-school. If I can dredge up the definition and applicabilities of derivatives, I think I'll be okay, even in Economics class.
Isn't memory fascinating? That information had been so completely buried that I was absolutely unaware of its presence. Yet as soon as I started looking for it, everything appeared as if a filing cabinet drawer had been pulled open, and a sheaf of papers covered with that information was sitting there, just waiting to be uncovered. Fascinating, indeed.
"Well, derivatives are really important," I responded, trying to remember some of the common terms from my calc class two years ago.
He looked puzzled. "And what exactly is that?"
As I opened my mouth to respond as I usually do when asked about topics from past classes - 'I don't remember' - I realized that I actually did remember. "It's how to determine the slope of a line at a single point," I started, and the more I described its function, the more I could recall about derivatives and how to solve for them. All sorts of related information came to the surface, like 'rise over run', and y=mx+b. I couldn't believe it.
After that conversation, I felt a million times more relaxed about b-school. If I can dredge up the definition and applicabilities of derivatives, I think I'll be okay, even in Economics class.
Isn't memory fascinating? That information had been so completely buried that I was absolutely unaware of its presence. Yet as soon as I started looking for it, everything appeared as if a filing cabinet drawer had been pulled open, and a sheaf of papers covered with that information was sitting there, just waiting to be uncovered. Fascinating, indeed.