For you engineers out there... - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

cdrazic93 · 02-02-2015, 07:12 PM

What level math did you finish at? I'm debating whether or not to go to multi variable calculus, since the physics I require start using double integrals with electricity and magnetic fields.

jvincent · 02-02-2015, 07:24 PM

I'm an EE, and we did triple integrals in my last math course.

BigFatFlip · 02-02-2015, 07:40 PM

This mostly depends on what field you are eventually going into. I'm an ME now mostly doing mechanical design work and only went as far as ODE (ordinary diff eq.) with a little bit of statistics for my MS. I find in the real world that most high level calcs are pretty much done by software/simulating, but a good base understanding of the math is always good.

jvincent · 02-02-2015, 07:48 PM

@BigFatFlip reminded me that I forgot to mention how much of my math I use in my field.

Pretty much zero when it comes to calculus. Of course that will depend on what you end up doing. I've been in technical management for a while now, but even the guy that work for me have no use for any advanced math. It's all handled in the S/W we use.

cjd · 02-02-2015, 08:05 PM

Well, not sure if software engineer counts

I don't use math specifically, much.

My hobbies keep me on my toes, but even that doesn't require me to DO the math any more - I just have to understand it. Vector calculus mostly.

So, as someone said - it really depends what KIND of engineering you're after.

stugray · 02-02-2015, 08:11 PM

I have been an EE in aerospace for 20 years.
I have not used calculus once in those 20 years.

Has the understanding of calculus and it's applications been important? Hell Yes!.

These days almost all the "math" is done with matlab, simulink, IDL or other software. So mostly only the theoretical physics types still need to actually manipulate equations down to the derivative or integral levels.

I think that taking as high a math class as you can take is good.
The more practice you have with higher math the more things you can visualize.
I went as far as Quantum Mechanics (really more math than actual "physics") with a BSEE

Hot Lava · 02-02-2015, 08:22 PM

I've found trigonometry to be quite useful. The decision to pick a math class should be oriented toward what specialty you going for. So a wise idea would be to consult the Professor who teaches within the realm of your specialty first.

pushrod · 02-02-2015, 08:32 PM

Laplace transforms.... something something sandwich rule.... something something Taylor expansion.

Engineering is all about avoiding math.

sin(x) = x for small x. Just saved a ton of time right there.

jvincent · 02-02-2015, 08:38 PM

Ahh, Laplace transforms. I was the shiznit at those back in the day.

FWIW, it's my engineering class' 25 year reunion this fall.

stugray · 02-02-2015, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jvincent

Ahh, Laplace transforms. I was the shiznit at those back in the day.

FWIW, it's my engineering class' 25 year reunion this fall.

We stare at Fourier Transforms at work all the time on spectrum analyzers.
We dont have to calculate them but we have to understand the underlying math.

1GiantTurtle · 02-02-2015, 09:23 PM

I gave up being a engineer after Trig

Ultramaroon · 02-02-2015, 09:48 PM

I hit the brick wall with ODEs. Div, grad, curl was just what it did to my brain. Do your best to be in the spirit of the coursework. It is critical to understand why it all works the way it does so you can spot something that doesn't look right.

We have all these modern, powerful analysis tools at our fingertips but get sucked into that pretty picture syndrome. No substitute for closed-form analysis of a simplified model to validate results from the computer.

Garbage in - garbage out

jvincent · 02-02-2015, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

It is critical to understand why it all works the way it does so you can spot something that doesn't look right.

Important words right here.

In my class there were lots of guys who could do all the problem sets, because they had seen them before, but present them with something new, and they didn't understand it.

Having done a lot of hiring, I try to find the guys who understand how things work because in the end they will be better at solving problems.

cdrazic93 · 02-02-2015, 10:01 PM

See, one of the fundimental reasons why i want to be an engineer (and why i kind of, big emphasis on that, like math) is because im a tinkerer and i love how things work. Im sure many of you have already posted in my old engineering threads but im going to be getting into either composites or vehicle design. I think composites is a better option, more things to do.

02-02-2015, 07:12 PM	#1
cdrazic93 Junior Join Date: Aug 2013 Drives: a car Location: Probably at school Posts: 4,341 Thanks: 3,184 Thanked 2,512 Times in 1,502 Posts Mentioned: 20 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	For you engineers out there... What level math did you finish at? I'm debating whether or not to go to multi variable calculus, since the physics I require start using double integrals with electricity and magnetic fields. __________________ "Ah! What music! They could have never imagined, those pioneers who invented the automobile, that it would posses us like this, our imaginations, our dreams. Men love women, but even more than that, men love CARS!"-Lord Hesketh

02-02-2015, 09:23 PM	#11
1GiantTurtle Space for Rent Join Date: Apr 2014 Drives: 2014 6MT ToyoBaru86ScionMonogram? Location: Pacific Ocean/SoCal Posts: 1,054 Thanks: 1,000 Thanked 1,136 Times in 526 Posts Mentioned: 31 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	I gave up being a engineer after Trig __________________ ToyoBaruScionGT86hachiRokuBRZMonogram Instagram: 86turtle Instagram: 86turtle

02-02-2015, 09:48 PM	#12
Ultramaroon 義理チョコ Join Date: Sep 2014 Drives: a 13 e8h frs Location: vantucky, wa Posts: 31,871 Thanks: 52,137 Thanked 36,522 Times in 18,923 Posts Mentioned: 1107 Post(s) Tagged: 9 Thread(s)	I hit the brick wall with ODEs. Div, grad, curl was just what it did to my brain. Do your best to be in the spirit of the coursework. It is critical to understand why it all works the way it does so you can spot something that doesn't look right. We have all these modern, powerful analysis tools at our fingertips but get sucked into that pretty picture syndrome. No substitute for closed-form analysis of a simplified model to validate results from the computer. Garbage in - garbage out __________________ service manuals

02-02-2015, 10:01 PM	#14
cdrazic93 Junior Join Date: Aug 2013 Drives: a car Location: Probably at school Posts: 4,341 Thanks: 3,184 Thanked 2,512 Times in 1,502 Posts Mentioned: 20 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	See, one of the fundimental reasons why i want to be an engineer (and why i kind of, big emphasis on that, like math) is because im a tinkerer and i love how things work. Im sure many of you have already posted in my old engineering threads but im going to be getting into either composites or vehicle design. I think composites is a better option, more things to do. __________________ "Ah! What music! They could have never imagined, those pioneers who invented the automobile, that it would posses us like this, our imaginations, our dreams. Men love women, but even more than that, men love CARS!"-Lord Hesketh

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02-02-2015, 07:24 PM	#2
jvincent Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Drives: 2022 WRB BRZ Sport-Tech Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 1,746 Thanks: 131 Thanked 1,410 Times in 715 Posts Mentioned: 25 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	I'm an EE, and we did triple integrals in my last math course.

02-02-2015, 07:40 PM	#3
BigFatFlip sleep, drive, eat, repeat Join Date: Mar 2012 Drives: '13 BRZ, '12 Outback Location: Sack of Potatoes Posts: 4,431 Thanks: 2,630 Thanked 3,796 Times in 1,981 Posts Mentioned: 188 Post(s) Tagged: 4 Thread(s)	This mostly depends on what field you are eventually going into. I'm an ME now mostly doing mechanical design work and only went as far as ODE (ordinary diff eq.) with a little bit of statistics for my MS. I find in the real world that most high level calcs are pretty much done by software/simulating, but a good base understanding of the math is always good.

02-02-2015, 07:48 PM	#4
jvincent Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Drives: 2022 WRB BRZ Sport-Tech Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 1,746 Thanks: 131 Thanked 1,410 Times in 715 Posts Mentioned: 25 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	@BigFatFlip reminded me that I forgot to mention how much of my math I use in my field. Pretty much zero when it comes to calculus. Of course that will depend on what you end up doing. I've been in technical management for a while now, but even the guy that work for me have no use for any advanced math. It's all handled in the S/W we use.

02-02-2015, 08:11 PM	#6
stugray Banned Join Date: Sep 2013 Drives: 2013 GBS BRZ Limited Location: Colorado Posts: 1,925 Thanks: 627 Thanked 1,445 Times in 711 Posts Mentioned: 41 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I have been an EE in aerospace for 20 years. I have not used calculus once in those 20 years. Has the understanding of calculus and it's applications been important? Hell Yes!. These days almost all the "math" is done with matlab, simulink, IDL or other software. So mostly only the theoretical physics types still need to actually manipulate equations down to the derivative or integral levels. I think that taking as high a math class as you can take is good. The more practice you have with higher math the more things you can visualize. I went as far as Quantum Mechanics (really more math than actual "physics") with a BSEE

02-02-2015, 08:22 PM	#7
Hot Lava The Antiriced Join Date: Apr 2014 Drives: women wild Location: in the grass Posts: 410 Thanks: 160 Thanked 350 Times in 165 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I've found trigonometry to be quite useful. The decision to pick a math class should be oriented toward what specialty you going for. So a wise idea would be to consult the Professor who teaches within the realm of your specialty first.

02-02-2015, 08:32 PM	#8
pushrod Benched 86lb Join Date: Jul 2014 Drives: Ultramarine FR-S Location: Ottawa Posts: 805 Thanks: 899 Thanked 927 Times in 392 Posts Mentioned: 16 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Laplace transforms.... something something sandwich rule.... something something Taylor expansion. Engineering is all about avoiding math. sin(x) = x for small x. Just saved a ton of time right there.

02-02-2015, 08:38 PM	#9
jvincent Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Drives: 2022 WRB BRZ Sport-Tech Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 1,746 Thanks: 131 Thanked 1,410 Times in 715 Posts Mentioned: 25 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Ahh, Laplace transforms. I was the shiznit at those back in the day. FWIW, it's my engineering class' 25 year reunion this fall.

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