ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Differential algebra

Differential algebra is like using special rules to solve math problems that involve both numbers and shapes that are changing over time. Imagine you are playing with a toy car that moves around a track. Differential algebra helps you figure out how fast the car is going at different points on the track, how its speed is changing, and how it might move in the future.

Now, let's say you have a math problem that involves shapes and numbers that are changing over time, like a car moving around a curve. Differential algebra can help you solve this problem by looking at how the car's position, speed, and acceleration are changing as it moves around the curve.

To do this, you need to use special tools called derivatives and integrals. Derivatives help you figure out how things are changing over time, while integrals help you add up all the changes over time to get a final answer.

Using these tools, you can answer questions like: how far does the car travel in 5 seconds? How fast is it going at a particular point on the track? How much does its speed change over time?

Differential algebra is a powerful tool that helps scientists and engineers solve complex problems in fields like physics, engineering, and finance. While it may seem complex at first, it's really just a way to use math to understand and describe the world around us.