did Calculus ever came useful in life?

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DesignDawg

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
3,919
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MY BAD. You're right, it is algebra. Oh, and you also, you were right, and you, and you, and you. Guys, it only takes one to correct. Not enough variables for it to be cal. Anyway, the practical purpose of cal is to figure out the most effecient way to do something. The reason all the soup cans are the same dimensions is because that's the width and height for a can that uses the least metal to make 15 ounces (or however big soup cans are.) Get any fatter and shorter, it uses more metal, more expensive to produce. Calculus at work.

Ricky
DesignDawg
 

Napalm381

Platinum Member
Oct 10, 1999
2,724
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If you want a degree in engineering or science, you will have to remember it. You won't pass the classes unless you do.
 

Scrapster

Diamond Member
Nov 27, 2000
3,746
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my original point was, should I REMEMBER all those Calc stuff

No. In fact, make a point to forget everything you learn in college. You already know how to write and speak, you'll be fine with just that.
 

BA

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 1999
5,004
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"Guys, it only takes one to correct."

But how else could we show everyone how smart we are? But oops, I just used my knowledge of calculus(admittedly on a rather fundamental level).


Am I ever going to need to know meteorology, history, spanish, team games, music, or uggghh, Dickens? No.
Am I a more rounded, intelligent person because of them? Well, the intelligence is up for debate...
 

shadow

Golden Member
Oct 13, 1999
1,503
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<< well correct me here nick pick >>

sure....
it's &quot;nit pick&quot; not &quot;nick pick&quot;
 

xodarap

Senior member
Jan 11, 2001
432
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If your question is does calculas help in advance calculas its a silly one.

PHYSICS IS CALCULAS.

Calculas was built for Physics, and Physics was built by Calcualas. With a good background in cal any formula in Physics can be simply derived. Without Newton himself gets stuck on law 2.
 

Michael

Elite member
Nov 19, 1999
5,435
234
106
I have never once used calculus since I took my last course in CEGEP (basically 1st year of university in the US) almost 17 years ago. Statsitics and algebra, all the time. Even linear algebra once or twice. Never calculus.

Now, I chose accounting for a living and I know that some of the tools I use have a calculus root, but I never haved used it.

I consider those two courses the biggest waste of all my University courses.

Michael
 

SuperTool

Lifer
Jan 25, 2000
14,000
2
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Maybe not outside of engineering and possibly economics, but sure doesn't hurt.
Remember, if you get good grade in a complicated class, that impresses employers even if it has nothing to do with the job. It shows them that you can learn complicated things if needed, and that's most important. You are probably never going to use any of the stuff you learn in school, because when you get out, you will probably not be doing what you think you will be doing, and most of what you learn will be outdated.
 

joohang

Lifer
Oct 22, 2000
12,340
1
0
andylawcc,

Without Calculus, calculators (or computers, for that matter) wouldn't even know how to calculate trig or log functions.

That means: No Games. :)

So I guess it's pretty useful in life. hehe

I just get irritated when the prof comes up with the weirdest equations to get me stuck and trick me. That's just dumb, since I understand the concept quite well. Otherwise, I love Calculus.
 

Dedpuhl

Lifer
Nov 20, 1999
10,370
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I am about to graduate with a degree in Civil Engineering and I use calculus quite often. It's impossible to escape. :(
 

Mday

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
18,647
1
81


<< my major is engineering OR comp sci >>



you are considering majoring in engineering, and you don't know if calculus will come in useful...
 

One day my swimming pool was draining at a rate of 5.6 gallons per minute. Being I knew the pool was 20x16 feet with a depth of 12 feet at the long end and 3 feet at the short end with a slope of 14deg, using the ways of the Calculus, I was able to know how long it would take for the entire pool to drain.

Sir Issac Newton, I love the guy.
 

eakers

Lifer
Aug 14, 2000
12,169
2
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ofcourse, when you have to cross a bridge and this troll is like &quot;you may only cross if you know the slope of this line&quot; or &quot;proofy the mean value therom then rolles therom and from that l'hospitals rule&quot;

then you can cross and save the princess no problemo.

*kat. <-- loves calculus
 

Michael

Elite member
Nov 19, 1999
5,435
234
106
Supertool - I have never been asked what my calculus grades were and no one has cared about my GPA since I graduated and landed my first job (auditor at KPMG Peat Marwick). I hire professionals all the time and I couldn't care less about grades in courses - I care about experience and qualifications.

Michael
 

Zach

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
3,400
1
81
There are three &quot;options&quot; you can go with when you BS in CS at my college, two don't require calc. Not that I did so bad in it anyway, A first year C second (slacked).

Why did I take it? I wish I knew....
 

Emulex

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2001
9,759
1
71
calc - never use it. most of my work is sys admin, with some prime contracts over $65/hr.