What is calculus used for in the real world?

[johnjbruin]

I have used it in quantitative financial investing. You would be surprised with what is possible.

 

[Auryg]

Originally posted by: SampSon
Boy there sure are a lot of young academic elitests in this thread.

Just like dullard said, you use calculus on a daily basis for the most basic of life's functions. Though natural math, physics and calculus are something a human can do without needing the ability to put it on paper. The fact that you can translate it to paper explanation only means you have mastered the ability to utilize a human system construct to explain something. The vast majority of the world will never need to utililze thoes systems to explain what they are doing. Sure there will always be the need to have people who use thoes systems on a daily basis to create the things we use to live. On the same note, we will also need people who shovel sh!t out of ditches so you can get fresh water from your tap everyday.

Quantifying the important of one over another is nothing more than a practice in elitest futility. Why so many of you turn your noses up to people who don't give a rip about explaning calculus, I'll never know. Come back down to earth, it's warm here. Your mother misses you too.

Couldn't say it better.

Yes, some fields use it. But guess what- a lot of colleges require it for fields that will NEVER use it.

So how is he wrong in questioning what he's paying for? That'd be like me, a CS major, taking History, Philosophy, and Religion.

Oh wait, I have to do that too. Yay for wastes of money.

Note: I love learning, I really do. What irks me is how I'm forced to "expand" my mind when I'd much rather just buy a 30 dollar book on the subject. I'd pick up more that way anyways, and it wouldn't cost me 12,000 a semester. Generals are just ways for the colleges to rip more money out of you.

 

[DVK916]

It is stupid for a college to require it for something like history, even requiring it for CS isn't practical, since calculus isn't used in CS.

 

[Fenixgoon]

ODE/PDE modeling FTW (gotta learn me some FEM)

 

[DVK916]

What irks me though is I am forced to take History, the same freshman history classes history majors take, but they aren't required to take the same calculus series as me. This stinks to high heavens.

 

[Gibson486]

It's more for understanding rather pratical purposes....for instance, you can make an Analog filter without calculus, but knowing calculus just ensures you know it better. Calculus become very handy when you have non linearities.....

 

[mercanucaribe]

You can't think of an instance where a rate or a slope would be useful?

 

[KillerCharlie]

Everything if you're an engineer.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Pacemaker

Originally posted by: nkgreen

Originally posted by: Pacemaker

Originally posted by: nkgreen
Are there any more math courses that are based on calculus? Just curious because I'm a math minor with a lot more to go....

That will depend on the school but most have differential equations. I would ask a math teacher if you want a full list.

I'm pretty sure I have to take differential equations. I know I have to take discrete math and applied matrix theory.

The school I went to had two levels of discrete math one which required taking calc 1 first and one that didn't. The one I took tiptoed around the calculus which was annoying for someone who had taken it. So while I don't know for sure that it will use calc I would say probably will for some parts.

As far as applied matrix theory goes I wouldn't know, but if it requires calc 1 or greater to take it be prepared for some calculus to be used in it.

Those that took it and were 'annoyed' should have taken the calc pre-req one.

 

[piasabird]

Well some specifications for electronics components are based on Calculus.

 

[hans007]

i took 2 years of calc in college to get a ... software engineering degree. yeah thats just the way ucla does it.


i havent had to work on a project like this, but you woudl need it for 3d modeling to do gradients and such.

basic calculus would also be needed for things like econonmic modeling (i was an econ minor).

its most important for use in things like physics. i would assume there is a huge application for it in the EE and mechanical engineering fields as well as things dealing with fluids and pressures like say someone building an oil derrick.

 

[cHeeZeFacTory]

Real naive question imo. Calculus is basically the foundation for mathematics in engineering.

 

[her209]

Calculating the area under a woman's curves.


[Duffman] Oh yeah! [/Duffman]

 

[Synomenon]

Originally posted by: SampSon
Boy there sure are a lot of young academic elitests in this thread.

Just like dullard said, you use calculus on a daily basis for the most basic of life's functions. Though natural math, physics and calculus are something a human can do without needing the ability to put it on paper. The fact that you can translate it to paper explanation only means you have mastered the ability to utilize a human system construct to explain something. The vast majority of the world will never need to utililze thoes systems to explain what they are doing. Sure there will always be the need to have people who use thoes systems on a daily basis to create the things we use to live. On the same note, we will also need people who shovel sh!t out of ditches so you can get fresh water from your tap everyday.

Quantifying the important of one over another is nothing more than a practice in elitest futility. Why so many of you turn your noses up to people who don't give a rip about explaning calculus, I'll never know. Come back down to earth, it's warm here. Your mother misses you too.

:thumbsup:

I'm a Computer Engineering / Electrical Engineering Major and I agree with you.

 

[Dritnul]

R

 

[Gibson486]

you guys are missing the point. For most needs, algebra will suffice. Calculus is used to derive equations into an algebriac model. It just so happens that lots of stuff is already solved for us and the equations are given to us, so we do not use calculus lots of times. Lots of the times we cannot calculus usefully because we are more concerned about the instanteous value as opposed to the average. In that case, we have to use calculus to find the equation, but algebra to solve it.

As a result, calculus is indeed useful as a tool to describe phenomena, and while it can be use to solve equations, most will revert back to algebra for solving.

 

[FleshLight]

I use L'hopitals rule all the time when I drive my car.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: FleshLight
I use L'hopitals rule all the time when I drive my car.

helps you find your speeding limit?

 

[DVK916]

Originally posted by: cHeeZeFacTory
Real naive question imo. Calculus is basically the foundation for mathematics in engineering.

Not for software engineering.

 

[IronWing]

Calculus is essential to my job. But it's all buried in the software now.

 

[DVK916]

Originally posted by: hans007

i took 2 years of calc in college to get a ... software engineering degree. yeah thats just the way ucla does it.


i havent had to work on a project like this, but you woudl need it for 3d modeling to do gradients and such.

basic calculus would also be needed for things like econonmic modeling (i was an econ minor).

its most important for use in things like physics. i would assume there is a huge application for it in the EE and mechanical engineering fields as well as things dealing with fluids and pressures like say someone building an oil derrick.

2 years, what classes. UCI doesn't require any Calculus for its SE degree, surpised UCLA would require 2.

 

[MagicConch]

something like this could happen:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=bXRWr2ed3O8

 

[StrangerGuy]

Differentiation is used to calculate instantaneous speed shown on your speedometer.

 

[DrPizza]

Suppose that by optimizing the shape of a can, you can shave off 1/10th of a cent on the cost to manufacture a can. That's a calculus problem. Is 1/10th of a cent significant? The answer is "no" to most people. How about if you're Pepsi selling a billion cans of soda each year (10's of billions? 100's of billions? I couldn't find a figure by googling; but it's definitately at least a billion.) That's a million dollars saved.

Think about anything else that's mass produced - every optimization (read: calculus) problem that's done saves a company significant sums of money, adding to the profits.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: Flyback


Besides, the analytical side of calculus is very worthwhile for a well-rounded citizen and more difficult to measure. It will make you a better person.

I think that's a bit of a stretch. It'll make you a better person?