Can someone please tell me one person who has ever benefited from knowing calculus during an emergency, and what were the circumstances?
2007-06-25 22:46:30 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
The point of advanced math is the same as the point of all math. To find patterns to explain the world in quantifiable relationships.
More and more advanced math is there to explain the more complexities that are otherwise unexplainable in lower levels of math.
Math is there to simplify things... not to make it more complex.
Anyone who says higher levels of math is "stupid" or "unnecessary" is only trying to alleviate their own sense of guilt for being stupid, themselves. Even if you have no use for it, someone does.
2007-06-25 22:59:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, to start, differential calculus is all about rates of changes. We live with those everyday all day long and they can often present themselves to us in emergency situations. In particular, if you need to maximize or minimize anything, understanding the fundamentals of differential calculus can be very handy. Imagine a case where failure is not an option and you need to perform a task with maximal results and hope it is good enough, like arrive somewhere in time.
What you bring up is not my idea of the point of advanced mathematics. It is still rule-based calculation and computation. Advanced mathematics is the application of advanced logic on abstract sets (somtimes they are numbers, sometimes classes of functions, ...) to prove absolute facts or show relationships. The reason I bring that up is that probably too many highly logical potential mathematical geniuses probably never realize their potential because they never get to the point to learn what math really is, instead give up out of boredom or imperfection with arithmetic or similar computational applications of basic math.
2007-06-25 23:02:00 · answer #2 · answered by jcsuperstar714 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Math has many practical applications, and there is also many areas of advanced math that have no practical application. I think these are worthy of study anyway to stretch your mental capacity.
There are also some great examples of a useless mathematical pursuit finding use later on. For hundreds of years mathematicians studied prime numbers without purpose, until recently prime numbers have found a very important application in computer encryption, so you can safely use your credit card online to order hair spray, perfume, and nail polish to, like, get the captain of the football team to ask you out on a date so he doesn't ask Sally out instead. As if!
2007-06-25 23:15:08 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are going into physics, or engineering, a knowledge of Calculus will help you create things and obtain a high paying job. If you go into bio, chem or any of the sciences, it normally deals with a bit of calculus. It never hurts to know more because then you know when someone is bull shitting or not.
2007-06-25 22:50:55 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hmm.
Well, it's true that knowing the surface area of an ellipsoid is very unlikely to come into play in anything but the most obscure of situations, but there are lots of aspects of higher math that impact your daily life.
For example, epidemiologists (scientists that study disease outbreaks and epidemics, hence the title) use a concept that arises from a combination of calculus and trigonometry called Fourier series to examine the sources of the periodic (back-and-forth) variation of diseases like measles, which helps them to find cures and treatments.
So everybody is effected by at least someone's working knowledge of advanced math, whether or not they themselves are in possession of it.
2007-06-25 22:52:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The space program, they need to calculate complex orbits. Literally all the scientists use advanced calculus everyday, including most of the advanced diagnostic medical equipment. The complex calculations for Hurricane predictions use integrals for flow diagrams.
2007-06-25 22:49:00 · answer #6 · answered by Steve C 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Basicly. the more calculus you know the more intelligent you get, and the more easily you will solve problems and overcome obstacles in all areas of life.
Above this, the more calculus you know , the higher chances of you getting a very well payd job.
2007-06-25 22:54:36 · answer #7 · answered by Words Of Wisdom 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I know a guy who wanted to bang a girl at a mensa meeting. I think he showed her his oblique angle.
2007-06-25 23:01:00 · answer #8 · answered by Darrell S 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
to get a headache
thats what i got last year in geometry LOL
2007-06-25 22:49:31 · answer #9 · answered by xoxo 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋