Math

A thread for those who like mathematics… if such people exist.

What is your favorite subject in math? Do you have any favorite math problems or applications?

I'm not sure if like is the right word, but I am a math major. Statistics is definitely my favorite part of mathematics. :)

My brain is exploding… and not in a good way… O.o

I enjoy math a lot! My favorite topics are functions and transformations, exponential equations, and complex numbers.

Here's a proof that 1 + 1 = 1

a = 1
b = 1

a = b
a^2 = b^2
a^2 - b^2 = 0
(a-b)(a+b) = 0
(a-b)(a+b)/(a-b) = 0/(a-b)
1(a+b) = 0
(a+b) = 0
1 + 1 = 0
2 = 0
1 = 0
1 + 1 = 1

I loved math..until I reached calculus. But I'm learning not to dislike calculus as much as I used to! B^)

That's a great proof, although not very mathematically sound. It's bad enough to divide a number by zero, not to mention dividing zero by zero!

= Math is completely illogical and not able to be proved - why study it in the first place? :D

3-3*6+2=?? What is the answer? Mom and I contend that it's -13, but everyone else says it's either -17 or 2.

Math is logic. If math is illogical, then the laws of logic are false. If the laws of logic are false, then the they don't apply. Therefore, I would argue that math is logic if it is illogical.

3-3*6+2=?? What is the answer? Mom and I contend that it's -13, but everyone else says it's either -17 or 2.

It's -13 unless I am mistaken (which happens sometimes… a lot of the time).

^That was going off of his proof. But being a completely illogical person, and one who hates math, I would just say neither of them needs to be studied. :P^

3-3*6+2=?? What is the answer? Mom and I contend that it's -13, but everyone else says it's either -17 or 2.

It's -13 unless I am mistaken (which happens sometimes... a lot of the time).

Multiplication and division before addition and subtraction:
3-3*6+2
3-18+2
-15+2
-13

So you were right: it is -13.

Haha, you caught it :)

I just learned how to divide by zero in Calculus. Well, not quite. I figure out what would happen when different expressions are divided by zero if it were actually possible to divide by zero.

For the record, I'm finishing geometry, and that's the highest in math I'm going. x)

Taking Precalc and enjoying it immensely. :) I'll be so sad when it's done… :( :P

To be honest, Calc is a little easier than Precalc. :)

Really! Is that because you're not learning as many completely new things, just building on what you've learned?

I learned a ton of completely new things in Calculus, although your Precalc curriculum may spoil some things for you depending on how advanced it is. Have you learned about derivatives yet?

I learned a ton of completely new things in Calculus, although your Precalc curriculum may spoil some things for you depending on how advanced it is. Have you learned about derivatives yet?

I actually have (a little), but that's only because I was impatient and studied a little Calculus before finishing Precalc. :P But I still haven't finished Precalc, so maybe they introduce it near the end of the book… checks Yes, they do. I know that limits and derivatives are the foundations of Calculus, but I don't know much more than that.

In that case, taking Calculus won't be quite as revolutionary, but there is still a lot to learn! Another great thing about Calculus is that once you have a firm grasp of it you can do so many interesting science problems.

In that case, taking Calculus won't be quite as revolutionary, but there is still a lot to learn! Another great thing about Calculus is that once you have a firm grasp of it you can do so many interesting science problems.

Which is part of why I'm eager to complete it eventually! :) Sometimes I've considered dropping math indefinitely, but I keep feeling like that would ruin the whole purpose of why I've been studying it for so long. If I just stopped short after Precalculus and never went on, I'd have spent a ton of time learning a ton of knowledge, just so that I'll never know why I ever needed to know half of it. From what I've heard, Calculus ties everything together and makes math relevant to the real world! I can't pass up that opportunity. x)

I never thought of Calculus trying everything together, but I guess it sort of does. It requires Algebra and Trigonometry. It enhances Geometry (many Geometric facts are proved by Calculus), and it opens the door to all other advanced mathematics.

I never thought of Calculus trying everything together, but I guess it sort of does. It requires Algebra and Trigonometry. It enhances Geometry (many Geometric facts are proved by Calculus), and it opens the door to all other advanced mathematics.

What other kinds of advanced mathematics are there? Like, what could you get into if you got past Calculus and wanted to go further?

Linear Algebra (although that doesn't really require Calculus), differential equations (although that is sort of part of Calculus), advanced number theory… it basically just puts you on the cutting edge of mathematics.

Hello? Did I just miss the bus?

What's a bus?

Linear Algebra (although that doesn't really require Calculus), differential equations (although that is sort of part of Calculus), advanced number theory... it basically just puts you on the cutting edge of mathematics.

Are there any other classes? I'll probably be taking Calc III in the summer and I'll still have three years to go of studying math. :)

You could try Linear Algebra. Differential Equations is usually a separate class from Calculus. Other than that, I'm not sure. I'm still in Calc II. Have you been taking your Calculus courses at home?

I'm in Calc II too! And I'm in college right now. :)

How are you enjoying it?

Meh. That's all I can really say. :P

Understood. It will be worth it all in the end.

This is why I hate math. And fail at it.

1x3 is not 4.
4x2 is not 5, and 5x7 is not 36.
60/2 is not 120.

These all were stupid mistakes I made doing my math lesson today. May I note that I made MANY more mistakes, but forgot them. XD

That the hard part about math. Even a little mistake can make a big difference.

This is why I hate math. And fail at it. 1x3 is not 4. 4x2 is not 5, and 5x7 is not 36. 60/2 is not 120. These all were stupid mistakes I made doing my math lesson today. May I note that I made MANY more mistakes, but forgot them. XD

If it makes you feel better, I'm in Calc II and I still make stupid mistakes. :P

And in calculus when you go back to a problem you find wrong it's the simple stuff that messed you up.

Exactly. :)

And in calculus when you go back to a problem you find wrong it's the simple stuff that messed you up.

That's why, when you get into higher mathematics, you mainly use your calculator for the simple stuff. xP

!http://www.dumpaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/math-definition-funny-quotes.jpg!

Preposition like "to" are not supposed to make a difference in acronyms. Besides, "math" is an abbreviation. The real acronym is MATHEMATICS: Mutually Accepted Theories Having Enigmatic but Much Appreciated and Totally Intriguing Conceptions and Syntax.

Preposition like "to" are not supposed to make a difference in acronyms. Besides, math is an abbreviation. The real acronym is MATHEMATICS: Mutually Accepted Theories Having Enigmatic but Much Appreciated and Totally Intriguing Conceptions and Syntax.

How about MATH: Miserably Aggravating Tension Headaches?
Because for me, that's really all math does.

And in calculus when you go back to a problem you find wrong it's the simple stuff that messed you up.

That's why, when you get into higher mathematics, you mainly use your calculator for the simple stuff. xP

^^ Hehe. xP It takes waaaay too long without the calculator too.

LOL! XD

Hehe. xP It takes waaaay too long without the calculator too.

Depends on the stuff! What about 646 divided by 17? If one can solve that mentally, you can beat the calculator.

And in calculus when you go back to a problem you find wrong it's the simple stuff that messed you up.

That's why, when you get into higher mathematics, you mainly use your calculator for the simple stuff. xP

That doesn't help when you punch the problem into the calculator wrong. :P

Hehe. xP It takes waaaay too long without the calculator too.

Depends on the stuff! What about 646 divided by 17? If one can solve that mentally, you can beat the calculator.

If, being the operative term here… I can't solve that mentally. There are methods, but I haven't learned them.

Right. If one can do it mentally, by all means then, as it saves time and one doesn't have the risk of accidentally mispunching the equation into the calculator, which is easy enough to do, even with simple calculations.

I can see what I type in on my calculator after I enter it, so I can check to make sure I got everything right.

True, although I have been messed up before by missing inserting a parenthesis when I need to. Usually the answer is too off to make sense though, but I have not caught it before and it messed me up.