Why do architects and engineers have to study calculus and trigonometry? What are their uses?

Answer 1

Let's look at an example. Suppose you're an architect/engineer who is about to design and build a a great building with a dome (or more complex shapes) as the roof. These are some things that you might consider:
- how to support the structure, especially at the pressure points
- how to ensure that the structure is safe, yet with minimal support so as to minimalize the material used and cost of construction.
- the area of the dome, which would then give you an estimate of the material that you'll need to buy and the construction time period.
- how to build it? create a dome somewhere else and piece it to the roof? create some foundations and build on it?
- during the construction phase you'll also need to ensure that things are build at the right scale and angle.

for all these you'll need trigonometry and calculus. These are only a few examples!

Answer 2

Engineers use known laws or physics and chemistry to design things that are safe and serve a useful function. The known laws of physics are described and predicted by mathmatical equations. Calculus and trigonometry are necessary for manipulating equations and transferring experimental results to the real world.

Answer 3

Because if they aren't bright enough to understand something as simple as Calculus or Trigonometry, they *certainly* aren't bright enough to design and build buildings, bridges, and other things that might injure of kill people if they failed.


Doug

Answer 4

there are alot of uses in calculus and trigonometry..its used in calculating the degree of the building and alot more ....btway are not tough subject..

Answer 5

u know what we've got a calculus subject too.. and imagine i'm still a junior 4th year high school>>>>> i wondered how it could help me too but i guess sometimes it does help us.....differentiating expressions or finding limit of numbers.....or even simple derivatives...