Timeline for Use of $h$ in the Newton Quotient
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
6 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 6, 2015 at 4:37 | review | Low quality posts | |||
| Feb 6, 2015 at 7:09 | |||||
| Feb 6, 2015 at 4:07 | history | migrated | from math.stackexchange.com (revisions) | ||
| Feb 5, 2015 at 19:04 | comment | added | bd1251252 | @GitGud I'm merely pointing out that it doesn't have to be $h$, i.e. different sources use different symbols to mean the same thing or be more specific. $h$ is just the default. This is like asking why the default in many beginning Algebra courses is the variable $x$. It just depends on the author's or teacher's pick, and later when we throw $y$'s into the equation people have to get used to it, the same as I had to when reading Widder's book. | |
| Feb 5, 2015 at 18:57 | comment | added | Git Gud | It doesn't matter that there are sources which don't use $h$.The question asks about why $h$ is used a lot, or rather why it has been used. This doesn't answer this question. | |
| Feb 5, 2015 at 18:56 | comment | added | charlotte | Okay, and I notice Wikipedia uses $P$ and $\Delta P$. Obviously it doesn't have to be $h$, but it seems to be the most common. I don't recall ever reading a book which didn't use $h$. I'll check my old textbooks when I get home. | |
| Feb 5, 2015 at 18:52 | history | answered | bjd2385 | CC BY-SA 3.0 |