- #1
Farina
- 39
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Do Engineers Use Calculus??
A heated debate broke out in class today.
The topic was whether or not engineers use a lot
of calculus on the job. We are talking about practicing,
professional engineers, not engineering students.
I'm on the side that says NO -- the class of real-world
problems that are addressable using calculus is
very small; that the vast majority of real-world situations
are analyzed using numerical methods.
The other side disagreed and suggested, for example, that
electrical engineers use a good deal of calculus since in many
cases the theoretical situation they are looking at matches
the real, physical situation.
What do you think?
A heated debate broke out in class today.
The topic was whether or not engineers use a lot
of calculus on the job. We are talking about practicing,
professional engineers, not engineering students.
I'm on the side that says NO -- the class of real-world
problems that are addressable using calculus is
very small; that the vast majority of real-world situations
are analyzed using numerical methods.
The other side disagreed and suggested, for example, that
electrical engineers use a good deal of calculus since in many
cases the theoretical situation they are looking at matches
the real, physical situation.
What do you think?