This document discusses determining the deflection of beams under load. It introduces the concepts of bending moment (M), modulus of elasticity (E), and moment of inertia (I) in determining curvature and deflection. The maximum deflection can be obtained by solving the second order differential equation that governs the elastic curve of the beam, using the boundary conditions of the beam's supports and applying any loads. Examples are provided to demonstrate how to set up and solve the differential equations to find the deflection at any point on beams with various load configurations.