03-04-2005 06:16									#1
	math (higher)...what is it good for? Absolutely nothing...huh! Say it again. Math! Support Apolyton

Ok...Ming...we will try to keep a fair amount of content in here. I think I'm allowed 2 real threads and one spam one, right?

So, I am reading this book: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...9481872-9639336

Makes me think about higher math. What is higher math? What uses does it have? What does it mean to have math ability (in a very tactical sense)?

	03-04-2005 06:20									#2
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Higher math is good for training your brain to solve problems.

	03-04-2005 06:22									#3
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It's damn useful for coding and modelling in general.

	03-04-2005 06:23									#4
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What are like the last "useful math courses"? Like I understand that theoretical calculus (for math majors) has little utility? Once you are past diffEQ's, is there any useful math left? What is real analysis?

	03-04-2005 06:24									#5
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quote: Originally posted by Ted Striker Higher math is good for training your brain to solve problems.

Don't be launching Britney in here and getting my thread killed. I want to learn something from the little wonders.

	03-04-2005 06:24									#6
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*sigh*

I was being serious.

Thanks for the pretentiousness though. You're welcome for the bump.

	03-04-2005 06:26									#7
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quote: Originally posted by Cruddy It's damn useful for coding and modelling in general.

What comes to your mind when you say this? What forms of math? What examples of usage?

	03-04-2005 06:27									#8
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All right, in everyday practical terms, higher maths isn't that useful.

Unless you gamble, of course.

	03-04-2005 06:27									#9
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quote: Originally posted by Ted Striker *sigh* I was being serious. Thanks for the pretentiousness though. You're welcome for the bump.

I was trying to provoke you...but keep clear of MingosNarkosQ

	03-04-2005 06:28									#10
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quote: Originally posted by TCO What are like the last "useful math courses"? Like I understand that theoretical calculus (for math majors) has little utility? Once you are past diffEQ's, is there any useful math left? What is real analysis?

WTF is "theoretical calculus"?

	03-04-2005 06:30									#11
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US students don't do calculus until you major?

You lucky, lucky, bastards!

	03-04-2005 06:31									#12
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In physics, we use

Differential geometry
Topology
Group/algebra theory
Complex analysis

on a regular basis

	03-04-2005 06:31									#13
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quote: Originally posted by KrazyHorse WTF is "theoretical calculus"?

Something in the math major curriculum where they redid calculus with lots of proofs and stuff.

	03-04-2005 06:32									#14
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sounds like an analysis course to me

	03-04-2005 06:32									#15
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quote: Originally posted by Cruddy US students don't do calculus until you major? You lucky, lucky, bastards!

No, it's pre-major.

	03-04-2005 06:33									#16
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like my analysis 2 course...

	03-04-2005 06:33									#17
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quote: Originally posted by KrazyHorse In physics, we use Differential geometry Topology Group/algebra theory Complex analysis on a regular basis

what are they and what are they good for. Like calculus is good for finding min and max and it is just slope of curves and areas under.

	03-04-2005 06:39									#18
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differential geometry is used extensively in GR (diff geo on curved 4-space)

it can also be used to give geometric interpretations of field theories (wrt lagrangian densities etc)

topology is used in condensed matter to describe defects in ordered systems (superfluids, liquid crystals, etc)

group theory is used by mat sci people to describe crystallographic modes of excitation. Continuous groups/lie algebras are used to describe the gauge symmetries of particle physics theories

complex analysis is used all over the place in QFT to do sums and integrals which would be difficult or impossible otherwise

	03-04-2005 06:41									#19
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other than complex analysis, analysis is fairly useless in physics. people just assume that you're allowed to manipulate things in the intuitive way (doing many things that would make mathematicians tear their hair out)

	03-04-2005 06:57									#20
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quote: Originally posted by KrazyHorse differential geometry is used extensively in GR (diff geo on curved 4-space) it can also be used to give geometric interpretations of field theories (wrt lagrangian densities etc) topology is used in condensed matter to describe defects in ordered systems (superfluids, liquid crystals, etc) group theory is used by mat sci people to describe crystallographic modes of excitation. Continuous groups/lie algebras are used to describe the gauge symmetries of particle physics theories complex analysis is used all over the place in QFT to do sums and integrals which would be difficult or impossible otherwise

GR doesn't do much for me. The CM/Mat sci stuff sounds ok. Group theory and crystallography are very basic and central to many useful things. How about that topology crap. is it too?

	03-04-2005 07:01									#21
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sort of, yeah

	03-04-2005 07:03									#22
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what about tensors. What's their place in the zoo?

	03-04-2005 07:07									#23
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uh....everywhere

now used to describe everything. including classical EM...

	03-04-2005 07:10									#24
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Edwin Starr

	03-04-2005 07:10									#25
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Math is the purpose of life. Math is what makes us happy.

Only silly people who don't understand the wonderfulness of math care about whether it's "useful".

	03-04-2005 07:11									#26
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I'm used to them with things like mechanical properties and some electrical properties (NLO) stuff like that. But where do you learn them? Like where in the curriculum? Whole course? Or special topic in engineering math?

	03-04-2005 07:16									#27
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quote: Originally posted by civman2000 Math is the purpose of life. Math is what makes us happy. Only silly people who don't understand the wonderfulness of math care about whether it's "useful".

humor me.

	03-04-2005 07:16									#28
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you learn them because they're used everywhere. nobody actually taught me tensor analysis. that's something I get really annoyed about.

I picked them up through a combination of differential geometry, general relativity and graduate EM

	03-04-2005 07:29									#29
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yeah. I think it is a common gap. Is it a big enough subject to justify a course? Is it equivalent of matrices? differential calculus?

	03-04-2005 07:32									#30
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What was wrong with the Brittney Spears topic? Sure it was OT, but this is OT. And people were discussing the content. I think you're getting too quick to shut me down...