Logically, when will we ever have to use things like Calculus?

Question

I mean, of course it will look good on our resume, but when will we ever have to use it in our lives?

Answer 1

Not that many people will use Calculus directly in their lives but the point of learning math is to learn how to think in a logical fashion and solve problems using rigorous analysis which will help you in the future.

I personally have used Calculus and Differential Equations and other pieces of Mathematics but I was an engineer. I also used math to create a 3D graphics library that was used to create the graphics in the Star Wars movies among other things.

Answer 2

Look, most of these answers are complete and utter B.S.! The truth of their answers is, "I like and appreciate Calc, but in all honesty you will NEVER need to use it in ANY Meaningful way in ANY real-world experience."
They're not saying it that way, but that's the boil down point of their statements. You're not going to be calculating the trajectory nor velocity of a baseball on any given day, and even if you did, if it's a curve ball where are your calculations gonna take you?!? You'd need a Statistics class to give you the full breadth of where and how fast that ball was gonna reach it's STATISTICALLY target using PROBABILITY. So they're answers are complete garbage. Calculus does NOT teach you how to 'think rationally' nor how to become a 'rigorous' rational thinker. If you want to become a rigorous Rational, Logical thinker...take LOGIC! LOL That's philosophy, NOT Calculus and NOT Math! Philosophy and Logic are the FUNDAMENTAL is the break down of Mathematics. Logic gives you the REASON of WHY(!) to learn symbolic reasoning, AKA Math. The Western system of teaching math without teaching Aristotelian Analytics & Logic is a MONSTROUS mistake!!!

Answer 3

Others have explained how calculus benefits our daily lives. As for you personally using it, you may never have to. I only have used it for daily life problems very rarely.

However, there are good reasons for understanding it. The more concepts you have grasped, the broader your mind is. The more you will be able to learn and the more you will be able to cope with life's problems and uncertainties. You will realize that there can be more to know than what your own mind conceives of, that there are other points of view.

So learning things like calculus at school are *mind training*. Even if you use only few of those things directly in daily life, they will expand your capacity to think and deal with life's problems.

Answer 4

Let me just say this: Calculus is much more applicable to the real world than any other math taught before it in schools (i.e. algebra, arithmetic, geometry, etc., but you do need those bases to fully understand and apply calculus).

For example, you can use derivatives and anti-derivatives (indefinite integrals) to find the position of an object at any time knowing only its acceleration, or vice-versa. You can use related rates to find the maximum volume of a shape with the smallest surface area, thus allowing minimum material to be used in production of large containers. You can also use related rates to find how fast water is draining out of a container if you know how fast its height is dropping.

All of these are reversible with calculus as well, and these are just a very few examples.

-IMP ;) :)

Answer 5

Others have answered this question admirably. I might add ---
You need to know a little bit about a lot of things so you can tell when someone is trying to take advantage of you.

So - even if you never do another calculus problem, simply having awareness of what it is and what it means gives you more power...

Answer 6

You may not know it but you use it everyday. You are just not aware of it.

For example, calculations like finding the maximum or minimum of parabolic curve like a baseball pitch, etc. Finding the acceleration of your beat-up Toyota or a nice Maserati, knowing your speeds at some points in your travel. Or Finding the maximum area that a particular dimension of carpet you bought can cover your already installed living room.

Or, if you are in business, you want to know if it is even profitable to produce gazillion products, when the data tells you that you may already lose money after the 100th piece. Now,would you not want to do that. Because if you don't, you will lose moneeeyyyy! So who would be smart of not knowing calculus! You may argue that you hate calculus but then you lose your shirt and business. Oh, well.

Or, more importantly, you will not have those fancy iPods, and iPhones and all electronic gadgets, LCDs, cellphones and myriad of other non-electronics things without the application of calculus. You may not use it yourself but you surely are reaping the rewards of it!!!

So try to appreciate it more in the new 2008:

Answer 7

Depends on what line of work you go in to.

In my work (communications) I use calculus, group theory, differential equations, Fourier analysis and analytical geometry almost every day.

If you think calculus is a waste of time, you would probably view my job (and paycheque) a waste of time too.

Answer 8

Well if you are not engineer then you may not involved in calculus area of expertise.

Answer 9

Hi,

Calculus is used in every branch of the physical sciences, in computer science, statistics, engineering, economics, business, medicine, and in other fields wherever a problem can be mathematically modeled and an optimal solution is desired.

Physics makes particular use of calculus; all concepts in classical mechanics are interrelated through calculus. The mass of an object of known density, the moment of inertia of objects, as well as the total energy of an object within a conservative field can be found by the use of calculus. In the subfields of electricity and magnetism calculus can be used to find the total flux of electromagnetic fields. A more historical example of the use of calculus in physics is Newton's second law of motion, it expressly uses the term "rate of change" which refers to the derivative: The rate of change of momentum of a body is equal to the resultant force acting on the body and is in the same direction. Even the common expression of Newton's second law as Force = Mass × Acceleration involves differential calculus because acceleration can be expressed as the derivative of velocity. Maxwell's theory of electromagnetism and Einstein's theory of general relativity are also expressed in the language of differential calculus.

Calculus can be used in conjunction with other mathematical disciplines. For example, it can be used with linear algebra to find the "best fit" linear approximation for a set of points in a domain.

In the realm of medicine, calculus can be used to find the optimal branching angle of a blood vessel so as to maximize flow.

In analytic geometry, the study of graphs of functions, calculus is used to find high points and low points (maximums and minimums), slope, concavity and inflection points.

In economics, calculus allows for the determination of maximal profit by providing a way to easily calculate both marginal cost and marginal revenue.

Calculus can be used to find approximate solutions to equations, in methods such as Newton's method, fixed point iteration, and linear approximation. For instance, spacecraft use a variation of the Euler method to approximate curved courses within zero gravity environments.

I hope that helps!! :-)

Answer 10

Complex optimization is used to minimize resources required to do things (e.g.: a soup company may want to minimize the amount of material they use to make the cans to maximize revenue). Basically, the applications are used by others for things like saving material. There are also applications in the study of animals, e.g.: in their reaction rates and stuff, so scientists can study them further, as well as in engineering, construction, etc.