Mathematics.

[colinrmitchell]

Just out of curiosity, I was wondering if anyone else on this forum had any kind of interest in mathematics.

I know that a LOT (technically ALL) of what we do to our trucks is driven by physics/mathematics.

I was just looking to see who had an interest in mathematics. Which ever level you might have had or are studying. Whatever your background might be. We know that mathematics is behind every choice, decision, modification we might do to our trucks.

Just surveying interest in applied or theoretical mathematics.

Mathematics can and most likely does govern all of the things that we discuss in this forum. Who else enjoys a pursuit of mathematics, either recreationally or applied?

I am a graduate student in applied mathematics at the University of Akron, Ohio. As I am teaching a calculus course this semester, I am interested in seeing who and what kinds of people are interested in mathematics in a non-academic sense.

Regards,
Colin.

P.S.: College students in science fields, let's hear what math courses you are in!

 

[colinrmitchell]

Here's something I wrote up a few semesters ago describing the motivation behind higher mathematics:

http://gozips.uakron.edu/~crm23/overview/mathoverview.htm

 

[triumphrider-1]

I took the mathematics required for my mechanical engineering degree. Started with the calculus classes, then differential equations, followed with statistics and numberical methods.

not sure if I'll have to take more math in my grad schooling, but I'll find out.

I've always had an interest in forms of math, helps for engineering.

 

[graff104]

Currently studying to be a high school math teacher. Taking calc 3 this semester deferential equations next.

 

[colinrmitchell]

Differential equations is a great course. At least, I thought so. It may be hit or miss. It has been four years since I have taken it, though.

Did you enjoy it or hate it? I think that the course is the real tie-in to higher-level mathematics.

triumph-rider, I am thinking of beginning my doctorate in mechanical-engineering applied mathematics next fall. May I ask what kinds of topics you covered in your numerical methods course? Numerics is my strong point and the focus of my graduate thesis.

 

[partsguy84823]

college algebra, calc 1-3, diff EQ, trig, engineering stats, discrete math 1 and 2, lots of programming classes (applied mathmatics). I'm a Computer Engineering major... so...

 

[97RangerXLT]

lessee..

College Algebra, Trig, Calc 1,2, and 3, finite math.

also have taken FORTRAN, Visual BASIC, and COBOL. not math, but related.

COBOL pays teh bills...

AJ

 

[frankserrano]

i'm a freshman in college and am currently taking college algebra. i've always had a fairly easy time with math and was in higher math classes all through high school, including physics I and II.

a lot of people don't realize how much math really does help you in the real world, especially if you're in business or mechanics. my background and aptitude with math has helped me a lot in modifications to my truck.

 

[Will]

I love applied math. I sit a figure a lot before I make a move. I'm simple, but I use the hell out of what I know. I don't use combinations and permutations but I use Simpson's Rule, trigonometry and even some Y=MX+B. My wife, who is a controls engineer with Cummins, makes fun of my piles of scratch paper. Her thesis was on Fuzzy Logic applied to an engine controller and I helped build the load in the test cell. She writes algorithims and I was doing resistors in parallel.

 

[Vince near Seattle]

Mechanical Engineering student

After retiring from 25 years in the USAF and 18 months as a contractor in Iraq, I start back to college on Monday to finish my engineering degree. First degree in Applied Physics (sub-orbital and orbital flight mechanics)...

Still have my HP-67 and 48S... Bastards are going to make me use a TI freshman year...

 

[triumphrider-1]

Differential equations is a great course. At least, I thought so. It may be hit or miss. It has been four years since I have taken it, though.

Did you enjoy it or hate it? I think that the course is the real tie-in to higher-level mathematics.

triumph-rider, I am thinking of beginning my doctorate in mechanical-engineering applied mathematics next fall. May I ask what kinds of topics you covered in your numerical methods course? Numerics is my strong point and the focus of my graduate thesis.

I don't know about everyone else, but Diff-eq was a difficult course for me. Then again calc 2 was hard, so that carried over into diff-eq struggles.

I enjoy the courses a lot more when the professor can show how they tie in with real world examples. For some reason it helps me make sense of the math.

For my numbs course we covered:
Catastrophic cancellation
Matrix operations
Operation counts and iterative improvement
Taylor series
Newtons method
Unconstrained minmization
Polynomial interpolation
Cubic splines
Fourier transform
With additional MatLab problems for each of those sections.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

Being a Geology major I have to do a bunch with Geophysics, I'm in Pre-cal currently, I'll do Calc next semester, and U-Physics (trig based physics)... I find math real easy for me, but that's not to say I enjoy it...

 

[exbass94]

I'm an electrical engineering major. I've taken pre-calculus, Calculus I, II, and III, and am currently taking differential equations. I don't really mind math. I like it when I understand it, but it frustrates the hell out of me when I don't get it. Then again, I suppose I could say that about pretty much any subject. I've been struggling a bit with math in college. I had to take pre-calculus twice, calculus I three times, Calc III twice, and I have yet to re-take linear algebra.
I kind of like my differential equations course. I wish I could have taken it sooner, I think it would have helped a lot in my other classes.

 

[nice00ford]

Currently in Calc 1 in college, and it sure is a pain in the butt when your teacher has a heavy foreign accent. When you understand it, it's easy. But otherwise, it can get fairly tricky pretty fast. Looking to be a pharmacist or something medical related, so I know math is key behind this stuff.

 

[Mark_88]

I want to build a nuke so I'm going in for some math courses to figure out how to split an atom...

Aside from that, things just don't add up for me...guess cause I'm divided by a multiple personality complex that the doctors can't find the square root of...so I'm still a big minus...but that doesn't subtract from my great personalities...my girlfriend has an algie bra for her small breasts, and my rooster, well, thinks he's a crow...

OK...actually...I've been reading up on Einstein and a few others so I'm interested in taking higher math...