You cannot circumvent the "infinitesimal" in dy/dx using Barr...

You cannot circumvent the "infinitesimal" in dy/dx using Barrow Triangle

From: Sanjay
Affiliation: GIF, Inc.
Address: fixedincomerisk@msn.com
Date: 26 Aug 2008
Time: 21:42:20

Comments

Glyn, A fatal logical error in your argument. The fatal error you make is when you assume that the slope of the tangent which creates the Barrow triangle can be arrived at BEFORE you know dy/dx. If y = X^2, then I need to know that dy/dx = 2x, in order to construct the Barrow triangle. Barrow triangle would be impossible to construct IF we did not know that dy/dx = 2x. You can't sit with a ruler and pencil and do trial and error forever, trying to draw a tangent. So, how do you derive dy/dx = 2x, without the idea that dx becomes infinitesimally close to zero in the limit, simply using the Barrow triangle? Are you getting the point, or should I elaborate further? Sanjay

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