did Calculus ever came useful in life?

[andylawcc]

I mean, I don't need to calculate the derivative of my car's acceleration to determine my speed and so that I could know when to step on the brake in order to stop in 30 meters.

my major is engineering OR comp sci, so does Calculus and Physic (later ones) ever needed in latter part of college?

 

[bobtist]

Maybe... Learning to form a grammatically correct sentence, however, definitely does.

 

[andylawcc]

well correct me here nick pick

 

[Scrapster]

Well calculus certainly became useful in my differential equation class. And I'm thinking it will also be useful when I take adv. multivariable calc.

 

[fragarific]

yes, it got me through a couple hard tests some years ago

 

[RGN]

scrapster: Did you ever think that outside of those classes it would be useless?


As a 1337 frood that has already completed Calc I, II and III, I say yes. It will explain A LOT in the upper physics courses. That means that it applies directly to real life. no matter your plans (hardware or software) you learn some real neet things that 'make the world go round'




Damn I can't believe I said that. I HATE school.

 

[Linh]

having taken cal I, II, and III in college and setting the curve in each, i'd have to say that it's been absolutely useless in my present career.

 

[Wuming]

i think it's just important to know such a thing exist and what it can do in other applications. don't think it is terribly useful by itself though.

 

[DesignDawg]

The METHODS of calculus, no, but the IDEAS, absolutely. There are many times in life where the abstract ideas of calculus are very useful. Knowing that there are ways to figure out things that just seem like a gamble, and being able to figure those things out can be very helpful. I've found myself thinking how glad I am that I had cal in college many times.

Ricky
DesignDawg

 

[RGN]

Linh: What do you do? A hardware developer MUST use it. Hardcore Software Developers use it too. Then there are other froody professions, like an accident reconstructionist. The calc and physics they use are straight out of a text book.

Don't limit yourselves.


oh, I DID NOT set the curve in my calc calsses. I hated them all, especially III. BUT, I'm done with them, and I moved on WITH more knowledge.

 

[Scrapster]

Did you ever think that outside of those classes it would be useless?

I did at first, until I really got into the subject and realized that this is pretty cool sh1t. By far it's been the most interesting college course I've taken. My major will be tight knit around calc so whenever I decide to join those in the real world, I'll probably find a good use for it.

 

[Riskhk]

useless useless ...stopped taking calc after high school...but shoot have to finish the series though.......sigh

 

[dcdomain]

Dude... don't even dare begin to slack off... or it'll build up and screw you over. I started slacking off in math during my sophomore year in high school. By senior year, I ended up with a D in AP Calc AB not even BC. Anyway, I've been struggling through all my math courses now in college. It just keeps adding up man... know your material!

 

[Napalm381]

If you are planning on going into engineering, calculus will be inescapable, regardless of your specific discipline. I'm a chemical engineering major and calculus is used on a daily basis pretty much in my classes. If you do not understand the concepts and methods of calculus, you can pretty much forget about getting an engineering degree.

 

[andylawcc]

dcdomain: boy you will have a long regret in college...

I did that with physic, failed the entire AP test, so now I am stuck with 4 straight Physic quarter till next year, and I can't take any other class coz I need to finish Physic first as the pre-requsist.

 

[Motorheader]

When the answer is not so obvious and you have to convince the owner of a company that spending $3 Million dollars on your "idea" or "calculations" - you better know what you are talking about.

Having taken a large number of math classes by the time I was 21 then not taking any math classes for 11 years, you realize how much of it applies - it was easier for me the second time - especially Calculus.

 

[FrontlineWarrior]

for most people calculus is completely useless.

 

[dcdomain]

Sup Motorheader... fancy meeting you here... hehehe

Andylawcc, dude... 'will?' I'm freaking regretting it right now!!! I had to take Calc over again last year as a first year, received a C and D. Then in Physics, I busted my ass got a C. Last semester, I took statics. Basically everything equals zero right? My first test, I got a 15!!! I managed to get a 100 on the next one (a lot of people failed the first one, so the professor made the second one a lot easier, and I over studied after failing the first one). The final, I received a 76, ended up with a C in the course. Now I'm taking the continuation of that course, Structures 1... and I have no %&@)*# idea what the hell is going on. I'm screwed I tell you... and all these are Archy courses, my roommate is a Mechy, and their sh!t is many times worse! So if you are going to be an engineer, better start busting your ass now...

 

[Scrapster]

If you are planning on going into engineering, calculus will be inescapable

Yeah, you really shouldn't try to find reasons not to take it. The "I will never use this in real life" argument is overrated and overdone. Sure, you're rarely going to see job ads asking for "People with calculus experience" that's b/c they already assume you've studied it and know your stuff.

 

[DesignDawg]

OMG!

I didn't even notice the first time around that you were thinking of going for a PHYSICS degree! PHYSICS IS CALCULUS. Think about this: An engineer wants to build a bridge. Anyone knows that you can make a big solid block of concrete and put a road on top, and it will work. --But that's ineffecient. So, you need to know HOW LITTLE materials you can use and still get the most strength out of it. THAT is a calculus problem. Here's what I meant about calculus being useful even in everyday situations... You want to buy some drinks. The 12-pack of cans is $3.79. The 6-pack of 1/2 liter bottles is $2.50. Which is the better deal? THAT is a calculus problem. A simple one, yes, but it's calculus, nonetheless. You know which one is going to give you MORE drink, and it happens to be the one that's more expensive. But, until you find out which one costs less per ounce, you don't know which is the BETTER deal. Calculus at work.

Ricky
DesignDawg

 

[jyrixx]

bah, i hate my calc teacher.

 

[Mule]

<< The 12-pack of cans is $3.79. The 6-pack of 1/2 liter bottles is $2.50. Which is the better deal? THAT is a calculus problem. >>


This is NOT calculus, just algebra.:Q

Nevertheless, calculus does come in handy every now and then, especially if you are persuing an engineering degree.

 

[BA]

&quot;The 12-pack of cans is $3.79. The 6-pack of 1/2 liter bottles is $2.50. Which is the better deal? THAT is a calculus problem. &quot;

No, that's algebra. I've taken Calc I, II, and III, and never really used it outside of school. I'm also only a sophomore right now, so who knows, some application for it may still be in the wings.

 

[Scrapster]

This is NOT calculus, just algebra

Calculus is a cleaner version of algebra. Much less mess.

 

[andylawcc]

urrr... Ricky, that's just Algebra


>>The 12-pack of cans is $3.79, or The 6-pack of 1/2 liter bottles is $2.50

one can = 355 ml, 12 X 355 = (roughly think it is 10 X 350 + 2 X 350) = 4000plus
6 pack of 1/2 liter = 3 liter.

then divide them with the price, and they are usually calculator in shopping carts now (most Ralphs has), while there's a &quot;per oz&quot; indicator too. no derive or integral involved.


anyway, my original point was, should I REMEMBER all those Calc stuff, just in case I may need it later, NOT SHOULD I TAKE the calc class coz they are required.