H -°, L 7° | Tomorrow: 
H 17°, L 4°Of all the ways students can be categorized, there is perhaps no more fundamental distinction than between technical and non-technical people. There are the engineers, computer scientists, mathematicians, physicists and chemists. And then there’s, well, everyone else. You probably already know which group you belong to, but one basic distinction between these two groups of people really stands out: One group knows and uses calculus and the other doesn’t.
I’m sure all you non-integrators out there — and if you don’t know what it means to ‘integrate,’ it’s very likely I’m talking about you — are quite well versed in your list of excuses for not ever having learned calculus. You’re not ever going to use it. There are other more important classes to take. It’s a waste of time. You wouldn’t understand it anyway. You’d forget it two weeks after the semester ended. No one is ever going to hire you to solve math problems. The list goes on and on.
However, if you adhere to any of the aforementioned excuses, you probably also believe written and oral communication skills are important and everyone ought to be required to take an introductory literature class. You probably also insist intelligent people need to use proper grammar. I have just one thing to say to you if this is the case: You are a complete and utter hypocrite.
Calculus is the basic language of just about every higher level of science. Unless you understand calculus, you cannot have a fundamentally intelligent discussion about most of the engineering and scientific feats responsible for all our modern conveniences. Without a basic understanding of calculus, it is impossible for you to participate in the realm of technical discourse.
For example, what discussion of global warming models could take place without referencing the importance of Navier-Stokes equations in our cloud formation models? If telling you that the Navier-Stokes equations are differential equations governing fluid flow doesn’t help you understand that last sentence, I think my point has just been proven.
If you think it is important for technical people to be able to communicate and participate in discussions that don’t involve a bunch of equations and data graphs, why are you excused from acquiring the basic education to participate in technical discussion? Both are forms of communication and both are able to explain ideas of which the other is incapable.
To take things one step further, I not only believe you are wrong and logically inconsistent, but I believe taking at least one semester of calculus ought to be a graduation requirement for everyone. No exceptions. If you truly want your UW-Madison degree to certify that you are a well-rounded and educated person, calculus is a must.
Obviously, making everyone struggle through Math 221 would be just mean, and would frankly cause a decent number of prospective engineers and physics majors to skip class to avoid sitting through your questions. Even Math 211, 221’s dumbed down sibling, would be unnecessary for most.
All I’m advocating for is a class that would introduce you to things like derivatives, integrals and inflection points. It doesn’t even really matter if you can calculate them or know about the mean value theorem. After all, chances are you would devote substantial effort to making sure you didn’t really have to use anything you learned to compute a derivative anyways.
The differentiators of the world must rise up and expect that educated people will at least gain minimal understanding of technical issues. For too long the world has told technical people we must learn how to communicate ideas to non-technical people, because obviously they can’t be expected to have to learn things that involve math. We ought to demand non-technical people at least be forced to meet us halfway. The burden for ensuring good communication shouldn’t be entirely on us. Non-technical people need to learn how to communicate too.
Patrick McEwen ([email protected]) is a junior majoring in nuclear engineering.
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Arrogant piece and without good reason. Just being honest for your sake
Re-visit this piece in five years. Hopefully your definition of “degree” broadens a bit more from its current sphincter tightness.
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The guy digs calculus
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Maybe an entirely different sort of math class would be more appropriated. One on the modern context of math perhaps. This course could teach non-technical students about how math is used in modern relevant issues like global warming without forcing them to learn how to actually evaluate an integral. The concept of an integral and derivative can be easily taught to non-tech students who then would understand the equations you are talking about much better. Knowing how to evaluate integral is unnecessary for even most tech people in practice. Closed for solutions to equations we need are mostly solved by others and in the case where the evaluation is difficult or impossible numerical methods are used. I think the aspect of the class you are suggesting everyone take should be reviewed. Would taking a class in calculus as its currently taught really improve dialog between non-tech and tech people? I don’t think so!
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I think your list of technical people is short, biologist should definitely be included. The molecular basis of modern biology requires most biologist to understand chemistry and physics and level previously not necessary. Additionally, the almost ubiquitous use of spectroscopic techniques in biological analysis requires at least cursory knowledge of quantum mechanics. The modern biologist is much closer to chemist or a physicists then you may think. In fact there are many chemist and physicists who are doing biology and some biologist who arguably actually physicists.
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False. Sincerely, a BME student
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Argued like a true engineer.
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I agree with your premise, but only tangentially. Calculus is a great weeder course, which would strengthen the standing of all science graduates. As to those graduates having discussions about math equations - HA! - what kind of dope are smoking, dweeb?
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get a life you docuhe, there’s more to life than calculus.
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Hahah you’re an idiot. This article kicks ass.
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Ugh, you’re that kid in classes that raises his hand all the time to interject with questions or comments that don’t really have any other purpose but to show how much more you know than your classmates or professor.
Note to you, no one likes that guy. Technical, non-technical aside.
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12:07 - you’re clearly not a “technical person.” those kinds of people don’t exist in upper level engineering, math or physics classes. most of the time everyone in the class is too confused to even know what questions to ask so they can understand the material, much less ask questions to show how smart they are.
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Patrick raises a valid point, quit the hating.
Calculus is the cornerstone of sciences and as such, should be taken by everyone seeking a well-rounded degree. It’s as simple as that. The University sees ethnic studies as essential to understanding other cultures and therefore requires it for a degree. Calculus is essential to understanding many of the modern sciences and therefore should be a requirement. Just as we have required communications classes, a required calculus course should be mandated.
Note: I’m an International Studies major who did take Calculus and I do feel that it has enriched my degree moreso than some of my required courses.
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I will agree with the point about the value of calculus, especially taking it first semester of college. If anything, it is helpful for learning how to utilize a TA for help, how to work in study groups, and how to cope with a class where the average on the midterm is a 60%. It really is a “welcome to college” class, and 222 taught me more than just calculus.
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Yes, there are many good reasons to take calc, but that same argument can be applied to many classes at this university. Perhaps all students should be required to take a high level Political Science course so that they can have a “fundamentally intelligent discussion” about modern politics. Or maybe all students should be forced to take a class on logic, so they can construct a decent argument when writing an article for a newspaper. I grant you that calculus is a good thing to know, however that does not entail that everyone needs to know it. Climb down off that high horse Pat, and realize that not everyone loves calculus as much as you do.
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For the record, I have no desire to “have a fundamentally intelligent discussion about most of the engineering and scientific feats responsible for all our modern conveniences” with you, or any other pretentious ass who agrees with you. ever. Taking calculus wouldn’t change that…at all.
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I just used calculus in accounting. Non-technical major, my ass.
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I just used calculus in accounting. Non-technical major, my ass.
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Patrick,
I agree with you thoughts. I am not a UW Madison student, and I go to a completely different Big 10 university where the majority of students are engineering majors. However, even the students majoring in business or education have to take at least calc 1 and 2 for their major. Just like an engineering major has to take tech and general electives, so do all the other majors, and in order to satisfy the tech electives calculus is the basis of those classes. I’m so glad I moved out of Wisconsin to go to school!
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So you go to Purdue, eh? Sweet… or something… so whats it like going to a school where over 75% of students are dudes?
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I found this very thoughtful and interesting. As a science major who has taken my fair share of difficult math classes, I’ve always been told that I need to learn to express my ideas in laymen’s terms, and I’ve just kind of swallowed it as reasonable. But is it? Sometimes the most accurate and clear way to explain something is through math, instead of just a “take my word for it” kind of deal, which is what we end up resorting to, and then wondering why no one believes us. Good point, well written.
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That’s exactly right. There is no reasons why the words derivative and integral aren’t part of the “layman’s” vocabulary. Us calculus knowers of the world need to rise up and demand change.
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Very well written article. The points brought up are valid. I agree everyone should have to learn the language of the modern sciences.
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What a douche.