February 9, 2004
A: FROM MENTOR DENISE HARBERT IN IL
Yes! Absolutely! Calculus is an extremely valuable form of math and is used
to solve all kinds of practical problems. Calculus is mainly used to compute
areas, volumes, changes in variables, maximum and minimum values, and slopes
of lines drawn tangent to curves. Architecture is the field of designing and
building structures, particularly those that people can go into. Think of all
the mathematical calculations that need to be done in order to make a building
strong enough and structurally sound enough to stay up! Imagine trying to
build a structure without using the math that computes areas, volumes, changes
in tension or pressure, maximum or minimum strength, etc. I would certainly
never enter a building that I knew had been created by someone who did not
know calculus because I would be afraid that it would collapse on top of me
and kill me!

Calculus is probably the most useful and versatile type of math in existence.
It has direct applications to subjects like engineering and drafting. It is
also the math used to prove why various formulas work in biology, physics,
chemistry, statistics, etc. The math in calculus is more similar to high
school algebra and algebra 2 than it is to high school geometry. (My geometry
class required writing in complete English sentences in order to "prove" that,
for example, two triangles had the same angles.) Calculus tends to focus more
on manipulating formulas like y=5(x-squared) -10x +7 + (x-1)/(x-squared +7).
The second class in calculus does involve a lot of trigonometry as well, so
understanding sin(x), cos(x), tan(x), sec(x), etc. is very helpful.

If you are having trouble thinking of calculus as being fun or interesting,
then try renting a movie called "Stand and Deliver", made in 1988 with actors
Edward James Olmos, Lou Diamond Phillips, and Andy Garcia. It is a TRUE
STORY about a group of poor "going nowhere fast" high school kids in Los
Angeles whose math teacher cared about them enough to teach them calculus and
change their lives! It is incredibly inspiring and makes you want to learn
calculus!