Operational calculus

Operational calculus is useful in both the formulation and solution of the differential equations involved in engineering problems, and because of its power and directness it is finding increasing favor in engineering analysis. It is especially helpful to the electrical engineer because many of his problems involve transients, the analysis of which requires the solution of differential equations. In this article is presented not a popular treatment of operational calculus (several of which already have been published), but rather a brief survey of the historical development, an introduction to the background, and a summary of the threads of rigorous analysis that bind the many processes into a rational and systematic whole. This is the tenth in a series of special articles developed under the sponsorship of the A.I.E.E. committee on education.