Current Events > Have any of you ever heard someone say that to be really good at calculus and

(+) Yeah! (+)

..other upper level math you have to be extremely intelligent? you've heard others say this, do you believe it though?

I've heard it a lot and I wish I heard it less. It's not true. It's bad to make students believe they have to be born smart enough to understand math. It's just completely demoralizing.

emblem-man posted...

I've heard it a lot and I wish I heard it less. It's not true. It's bad to make students believe they have to be born smart enough to understand math. It's just completely demoralizing.

yeah you've heard it many times, like even most people you know believe this?

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i agree, many people believe this though. Have seen some like calc instructors that believe this. Possibly most upper level math instructors believe this at a higher rate then people generally

I feel like doing calculus and such in an exam environment can take a lot of memorization of all the different little rules. It can take intelligence for the sake of memory on that front, unless the class allows tests to be open book with generous time allowance.

But just doing it in general, typically not so much. Look up rule, do rule to numbers. As long as you take your time and lay out all your steps, it's not too bad.

Having said that, I do not have fond memories of Differential Equations.

Are you asking if I've heard it or telling me I have?

And no, not really. Maybe back in high school when kids exaggerated how tough every subject is, but really, just about everybody is capable of learning calculus.

Dalthine posted...

I feel like doing calculus and such in an exam environment can take a lot of memorization of all the different little rules. It can take intelligence for the sake of memory on that front, unless the class allows tests to be open book with generous time allowance.

But just doing it in general, typically not so much. Look up rule, do rule to numbers. As long as you take your time and lay out all your steps, it's not too bad.

Having said that, I do not have fond memories of Differential Equations.

oh really, have heard others say the importance placed on algebra and up...stuff like that that too much importance on it is placed in american schools.

Its exactly the opposite. You can develop your logical thinking skills by practicing and studying math

cadcrafter posted...

Its exactly the opposite. You can develop your logical thinking skills by practicing and studying math

you don't think most of that stuff is mostly memorization? it's mostly logical thinking skills?

I found statistics/probability to be harder than calc or trig.

LonelyStoner posted...

I found statistics to be harder than calc or trig.

is stats mostly algebra? you mean you only went up to calc 1 right? there's like 3 or 4.

Smallville posted...

you don't think most of that stuff is mostly memorization? it's mostly logical thinking skills?

You could definitely do it via memorization too. I guess it depends on the kind of class you take and what kind of questions they ask you

cadcrafter posted...

You could definitely do it via memorization too. I guess it depends on the kind of class you take and what kind of questions they ask you

sadly have heard the quality of your instructor is huge. You have ever heard of anyone doing calculus problems and stuff in their free time, when none was assigned , no class?

Smallville posted...

oh really, have heard others say the importance placed on algebra and up...stuff like that that too much importance on it is placed in american schools.

Algebra in my opinion is very important. It's the mathematical skill that I use the most and on a very regular basis.

Second probably trig, when I have to work with angles and such.

Other high school mathematics, meh. Calculus and the like are important for foundation on physics stuff but aren't directly used much outside of highly advanced or developmental fields.

Exception is Controls and careers around them. That stuff gets nasty quick. Heavy differential equation basis involved.

What jobs use a lot of controls? can't a computer program do it for you?

Im dumb as bricks and taking Calculus 2 rn and passing

It just takes good study habits and pure determination for me lol. Im in the tutoring center 3-4 times a week for at least 5 hours each time

Harpie posted...

Im dumb as bricks and taking Calculus 2 rn and passing

It just takes good study habits and pure determination for me lol. Im in the tutoring center 3-4 times a week for at least 5 hours each time

are you a returning student, like 30 yrs old, plus?

GranTurismo posted...

What jobs use a lot of controls? can't a computer program do it for you?

Computers are never a complete answer for stuff like this, since the user should be able to tell when the computer result is wrong, which requires understanding the underlying principles (control theory in this example).

GranTurismo posted...

are you a returning student, like 30 yrs old, plus?

No, Im 24 and trying to finish a bachelors in Statistics and CS. Its taken me a while though due to some setbacks. Hopefully Ill be all done end of 2025 ^^

GranTurismo posted...

What jobs use a lot of controls? can't a computer program do it for you?

"Controls" is basically programming a computer on how to act based on sensor inputs. There might be some basic, oft-repeated robotics or mechanical applications that have that kind of thing boilerplated, but any kind of new or novel approach is going to require human input and development.

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Maybe not. I didn't really study and I was great at calculus. For me it was about understanding how to manipulate equations and get what you need based on the information given. Sometimes it wasn't as simple as a plug and solve.

Takuya_Lee posted...

Maybe not. I didn't really study and I was great at calculus. For me it was about understanding how to manipulate equations and get what you need based on the information given. Sometimes it wasn't as simple as a plug and solve.

do you think that stuff is really useful? have heard others say it's importance is overrated and its usefulness too

To be really good, as stated in the topic title? Sure, definitely. Plain competence seems more of a dedication thing.

Guide posted...

To be really good, as stated in the topic title? Sure, definitely. Plain competence seems more of a dedication thing.

oh really? you think that to be really good, you need like to be extremely intelligent? have heard others that disagree with even that.

Isnt it kind of true though? Maybe not extremely intelligent but I dont think upper level math is something anyone off the street can do. You probably have to be at least moderately intelligent. Some people are hate to say it, probably too dumb for it.

Im a liberal arts major so this isnt me having some nerd superiority complex either

Itachi157 posted...

Isnt it kind of true though? Maybe not extremely intelligent but I dont think upper level math is something anyone off the street can do. You probably have to be at least moderately intelligent. Some people are hate to say it, probably too dumb for it.

Im a liberal arts major so this isnt me having some nerd superiority complex either

yeah i'm gonna say possibly, have seen many math teacher have this opinion too. Maybe have this opinion at a higher rate than just regular people not math teachers.....have seen many others say to do well in that calculus class it was important they had a good teacher.

I got As in calc 1, 2, and 3. Literally it's just about practicing the procedures you've learned.

Partial fractions was probably the hardest part and it's not really that hard.

GranTurismo posted...

is stats mostly algebra? you mean you only went up to calc 1 right? there's like 3 or 4.

Stats and probability are generally to get to problems where they don't tell you how to do it. Here's some data, analyze it. Here's a scenario, what's the probability. And there's often more than one way to solve it correctly.

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What about proof based classes?

The times where I got the highest grades in maths classes are the ones where the teacher set us the most homework.

So no, I'd disagree with that statement. Barring something like dyscalcula, what you need is practice

teep_ posted...

The times where I got the highest grades in maths classes are the ones where the teacher set us the most homework.

So no, I'd disagree with that statement. Barring something like dyscalcula, what you need is practice

have heard many say the quality of your calc instructor is very important. Not sure how much most of you believe that.

GranTurismo posted...

have heard many say the quality of your calc instructor is very important. Not sure how much most of you believe that.

I asked my calc prof for some compensation methods, because I didn't know I had ADHD at the time, but I knew something was wrong and I needed some way to get around it. She laughed and told me to study at least two hours a day. I was just stunned at how fucking trash that response was. Just got up and left. I was trying to study for at least twice that time, but not actually retaining anything, because I kept blanking out.

Sometimes I consider engineering again, but... the time and money aren't there anymore, and I don't care about math as much as I used to, anyway.

GranTurismo posted...

have heard many say the quality of your calc instructor is very important. Not sure how much most of you believe that.

The teacher that set us the most homework was a bad teacher. But she set us a lot of homework, forcing us to grasp the concepts on our own

I guess the average student in East Asia is extremely intelligent since they all learn calculus. Or maybe the education in the US is hot garbage. You decide.

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Good luck. Depending on how the rest of this semester goes I may also be retaking it this summer! What all do you need catching up on?

GranTurismo posted...

have heard many say the quality of your calc instructor is very important. Not sure how much most of you believe that.

A high quality professor does make it so much more manageable. Always go to ratemyprofessor.com to see your math teachers rating before signing up for the class

Guide posted...

I asked my calc prof for some compensation methods, because I didn't know I had ADHD at the time, but I knew something was wrong and I needed some way to get around it. She laughed and told me to study at least two hours a day. I was just stunned at how fucking trash that response was. Just got up and left. I was trying to study for at least twice that time, but not actually retaining anything, because I kept blanking out.

Sometimes I consider engineering again, but... the time and money aren't there anymore, and I don't care about math as much as I used to, anyway.

aren't many math instructors have this attitude? Was she like kinda mean otherwise though? Have heard if their english is not very good at all that makes it much more difficult. And aren't many calc instructors english is their 2nd language?

teep_ posted...

The teacher that set us the most homework was a bad teacher. But she set us a lot of homework, forcing us to grasp the concepts on our own

so she kinda hated to explain things at all, only more and more homework? Was english like her 2nd language, and stuff?

You need some intelligence, but I think that part is overrated. I do not have "innate" math skills so I couldn't easily breeze through math classes with bad teachers (unlike some other subjects). The easiest math classes I took all had really great teachers. I think a teacher who knows how to properly explain how things work is key.

YellowSUV posted...

You need some intelligence, but I think that part is overrated. I do not have "innate" math skills so I couldn't easily breeze through math classes with bad teachers (unlike some other subjects). The easiest math classes I took all had really great teachers. I think a teacher who knows how to properly explain how things work is key.

but you think even with a terrible teacher a guy can do great in the calc classes?

Smallville posted...

but you think even with a terrible teacher a guy can do great in the calc classes?

Yeah, if they are very smart and able to easily grasp what is going on despite the teacher or if they are really dedicated to figuring it out by themselves though self learning.

YellowSUV posted...

Yeah, if they are very smart and able to easily grasp what is going on despite the teacher or if they are really dedicated to figuring it out by themselves.

that situation might be rare. Heard many calc instructors are bad, most? idk

GranTurismo posted...

so she kinda hated to explain things at all, only more and more homework? Was english like her 2nd language, and stuff?

It's not that she hated explaining things, she just wasn't good at it

And no, she was just old

teep_ posted...

It's not that she hated explaining things, she just wasn't good at it

And no, she was just old

was she also kind mean as well? So you're saying she really wasn't very good at calculus herself?