What is calculus?

Calculus is a branch of mathematics that studies rates of change and accumulation. It has two main branches:

1. Differential calculus: This deals with instantaneous rates of change, essentially how things change at a specific moment. It uses the concept of a derivative to find the slope of a curve at any point.
2. Integral calculus: This deals with accumulation, or finding the total amount of something. It uses the concept of an integral to find the area under a curve.

Calculus is fundamental to many fields, including physics, engineering, economics, and computer science.