du refers to a differential part of u, which is infinitely small.
The term calculus comes directly from Latin. In Latin a calculus (noun) is a small stone used for counting, much like the beads on an abacus. One of the fundamental uses for modern calculus is integration, which is of course addition of infinitely small sections.
Infinitely many.
An infinite of infinitely small ones. You would need to use calculus to calculate the volume of a cone given a single triangular cross-section.
The branch of mathematics that deals with the method of summation is called calculus. Calculus involves finding a way to add up an infinite number of infinitely small quantities to arrive at a meaningful answer, such as finding the area under a curve or the total change in a function.
Thomas Leseur has written: 'Elemens du calcul integral' -- subject(s): Calculus, Integral, Integral Calculus
No. Infinitely Small implies something that is as close to zero as it can get without actually being zero - think of a positive or negative fraction with an infinitely large denominator. Infinitely Big implies something that is as far away from zero as possible, and then some: negative infinity or positive infinity. You can think of infinitely small as being the reciprocal of (one divided by) infinitely big.
If you have a strange dream of all encompassing but infinitely small power, then it means that you are frighten.
Donald Small has written: 'Calculus'
It is infinitely small.
I am not sure what situation you are talking about, but "infinitely small" amounts are basically used in calculus. Formally, "infinite small" amounts, or "infinitesimals" are avoided; rather, you investigate what happens when a certain amount gets smaller and smaller.As an example for such calculations, velocity is defined as dx/dt, meaning you divide a very small distance (the distance moved) by a very small time interval (the time elapsed) - and investigate what happens when dt (the time interval) becomes smaller and smaller ("tends toward zero", though it can't actually be zero itself, because then you would have a division by zero).
Madame Du Châtelet wrote Institutions of Physics.
infinitely small