What sort of math do you mainly use in electrical engineering?

Question

Do you actually use the physics and calculus in this field? Which topics in math are used most in this?

Answer 1

As a EE, I'll be honest with you. The really hard math is done by the computer these days (Excel or some CAD program). Not saying you don't need to know it, but you won't use it a bunch. You'll use the info from your electronics classes more. For math, you mainly use trig, geometry, and algebra. Maybe some basic calculus.

I suppose it really depends what kind of work you wind up doing. "Electrical Engineering" is a pretty broad category these days.

Answer 2

Electrical engineering is a broad field, so it depends somewhat on what you're interested in, and whether you want to become a specialist or a generalist.

If you are a generalist, then you will usually have to make new designs work. That means understanding the whole thing, including sensors, applications, controls, etc. Physics and higher math including calculus, trig, geometry, linear algerbra, differential equations can all come into play depending on what problem you are trying to solve.

If you choose to become a specialist, then it depends on the specialty. There may be some additional specialized math that comes into play. For example, if you do any serious signal processing using a DSP, Fourier analysis is often used. If you are designing robot arms, then some understanding of physics, dynamics and kinematics comes into play so that you know how to properly size and control the motors driving the robot joints.

Often times it works the other way around from what your question might suggest. You find an interesting field to work in or problem to solve, and you learn the tools and math/physics necessary to do the work. But the basics, calculus/trig/geometry/algebra are almost always useful. You just add on from there.

Answer 3

I'm an electrical manufacturing engineer working my way towards and electrical engineer as I am only 23. I have done some re-designs of products etc. The major math used is obviously algebra and also trigonometry. But, with almost anything there is a tool available to do it for you. Most stuff if you did it by hand would take too long and is not practical in the real world. In school, you'll do it the long hard way to understand it, but in the real world, not so much. I'm not saying that you don't need to know how to do it because you do, but you may not have to remember every little detail. Some examples of tools would include TI89 calculator, Matlab, Maple, and resources on the web.

Answer 4

Most of the above answers have failed to distinguish between setting up the equations for a problem and solving them. As they said, solving them is no longer an issue with modern computer programs, but these are useless unless you have set up the problem properly. For this you need to understand calculus, differential equations, vector calculus, electromagnetic theory (Maxwell's equations), complex variables and more. If as an electrical engineer all you do is design transistor circuits, you may never use these, but if you don't understand them and know how they apply to the real world, you will be limited in the kind of work you can do. Electrical engineering is a very broad field, and in today's world you need to be flexible.

Answer 5

No baloney but arithmetic is the most used if the wear on my calculator buttons is anything to go by.

Absolutelutly physics and calculous was used in my job---engineer in weapons research laboratory for Department of Defence.

There are two areas where especially important:

1) you are promoting your approach over the approach of a fellow engineer--you have to justify yourself. Sometimes it is done by written papers, sometimes by debates at a whiteboard in front of the department.

2) you are seeking funds from the person who would allocate money to your project. If you can explain what you are doing with specific science and math, you will give the sponsor confidence that you will give him a good return on his money.

Answer 6

I am a EE major and I think EE is one of the careers in which all math you will learn is actually used. Expect to take Calculus I, II, III, Diff. Eqs., and Linear Algebra and even Complex Analysis. Should be fun. By the way, dont be afraid of math, that is the easy part.

Answer 7

I hardly ever come into contact with any math other than algebra for electronic engineering

Answer 8

all mathematic fields are used, i.e. : basic math, algebra, geometry,trigonometry, calculus and of course physics.

Answer 9

of course