A stupid question deserves a stupid answer
The Riemann Hypothesis
08-12-2005, 03:07
So for my calculus class I have to write an essay about why my major requires calculus. Well I'm a math major, so this is pretty much a really stupid question. (So far what I have for the essay is "I am reminded of the saying, 'Ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer.'")
So does anyone here have any good ideas for what to write about?
Rotovia-
08-12-2005, 03:10
I'd suggest writing about the intricle relationship between calculus and math theory. Highlighty examples of the application of math, with and without the use of calculus, or something.
A math major, eh? Actually, I'm going to major in it too; just got my letter from Ohio State.
I honestly can't think of a good prompt for an essay, although I question their judgement in giving such a question...perhaps you could describe the effect calculus has had on modern mathematics or something equally broad. Or, if you're more adventurous you could write about what math would be without calculus...
The Riemann Hypothesis
08-12-2005, 03:19
perhaps you could describe the effect calculus has had on modern mathematics
Yeah that's basically what I was going to do... And then take an unsolved problem in mathematics and show how calculus is important for it. I guess the main reason for this part is that I don't think the TA grading it will understand everything I'm writing about... :p
Yeah that's basically what I was going to do... And then take an unsolved problem in mathematics and show how calculus is important for it. I guess the main reason for this part is that I don't think the TA grading it will understand everything I'm writing about... :p
I think that might be a good thing rather than bad, and if you could solve the problem or prove the theorem, I think the grade on that essay will be rendered totally unimportant...
The Riemann Hypothesis
08-12-2005, 03:30
I think that might be a good thing rather than bad, and if you could solve the problem or prove the theorem, I think the grade on that essay will be rendered totally unimportant...
ha! If I prove that theorem then I think I'll just skip college and start being an uber-mathematician. Nobody has solved it for 150ish years.... lol... So yeah, the grade probably wouldn't matter any more. Although I doubt she'd recognize that.... :rolleyes:
ha! If I prove that theorem then I think I'll just skip college and start being an uber-mathematician. Nobody has solved it for 150ish years.... lol... So yeah, the grade probably wouldn't matter any more. Although I doubt she'd recognize that.... :rolleyes:
Sort of like the maid who burned Riemann's papers after his death...
Saint Curie
08-12-2005, 03:38
Carl Boyer wrote a great (if somewhat pedantic) little book called "The History of the Calculus and Its Conceptual Development", wherein he presents calculus as culminated from a tremendously wide arrage of progressive ideas. I'm not suggesting you pirate his thesis for your piece, but Calculus is certainly one of those areas that redeems mathematics from a mere abstraction to a profoundly useful means of modeling phenomena in the natural world.
Or, you could claim that mandating the class as part of the accredited curriculum of the program has robbed you of the freedom to choose, and so you resent the question...
The Riemann Hypothesis
08-12-2005, 03:40
Sort of like the maid who burned Riemann's papers after his death...
Yeah. Pretty much an idiot. Speaking of Riemann, the Riemann Hypothesis is the problem I'm going to be explaining. Analytic number theory is pretty interesting, and definitely requires calculus, so I'm writing about it :)
Pythagosaurus
08-12-2005, 03:41
It might be more appropriate to write an essay on why a math major doesn't require calculus.