I found myself to be struggling in the subject of calculus. Calculus is the study of how things change and is often represented in complex equations and functions that represent the different elements involved in change and their consequences when interacting with each other. Calculus sets up the framework for describing the intricacies of position, speed, and acceleration. Calculus also deals with motion of an object along a fixed path. Furthermore, functions are used to describe the quantities of interest in all the systems to which calculus is applied. Many people struggle in this subject due to the advanced math skills it requires and the understanding of several different subjects of mathematics including algebra, trigonometry, and logarithms. …show more content…
In a way, it is, but it expands upon the equations to find more precise and complex solutions to the problems posed. I found myself struggling to keep up, especially as the flu kept me from school for nearly a week. Catching up was more difficult than I anticipated as I had to attempt to understand the notes without a verbal explanation and example. As a rather visual learner, I need to see the new material applied and exactly how each step works before I understand. This turned out to be problematic as without help and proper understanding, my usually high grade was dropping. I knew I had to do something. My grades are important to me and it is imperative for me to get good grades so that I can proceed towards my life and education goals without the impediment of my grades displaying poor skills. A change needed to …show more content…
Most of the time, I missed a step in the process or made the problem more hard on myself by trying to oversimplify. I found I struggled most in Trigonometry. I just couldn’t seem to grasp the concept of adding pi to the mix and how to decipher radians in their relations to piecewise functions. More recently, the trig managed to confuse me again but this time because I was attempting to prove trigonometric identities and find derivatives of the functions. It was hard and frustrating work for both the teacher and me. She was quite patient and understanding, especially as I was often confused and frustrated to tears. Slowly, the jumbles of numbers took shape and I was able to complete a problem on my own. While I still struggle, the tutoring sessions have been noticeably
The one thing I would consider something I struggled on in the past was math. Math was a weakness of mine and I hated it very much. Although math was a weakness of mine, my teachers got a little better and had more useful explanations. That helped me improved my knowledge on the math topics meet standards on test and practices. Now math is one of my favorite subjects and I understand it minus angles. I will say though, that I have been slowly starting to understand it better as
lesser of the math evils), and the dreaded, unspeakable others: mainly trigonometry and calculus. While
My experiences with tutoring others has taught me that it satisfies me to help others understand and learn. As you teach others you learn about the different ways you handle situations and solve issues as well. I’ve always been the person that my classmates come up to for help, but it wasn’t till grade 10 until I officially started tutoring math, mainly Pre-Calculus 12. In grade 11, I continued tutoring, but this time I focused on a single individual, and that brought up challenges of creating a suitable relationship, that becomes the foundation for effective learning. This year, I took on a challenge, my teacher asked me to be a mentor towards a student with learning disabilities who was struggling with school. I
Dilemma Paper As an engineering student calculus is fundamental to nearly every aspect of engineering. My experience with calculus started before I became an engineering student, it started while I was still in high school when I was in AP Calculus BC. AP Calculus BC was one of the hardest AP courses offered in my school, appropriately, only the top math students were permitted to take it. However, in my class there was a sharp distinction between the students who knew what they were doing, who had some idea of what was going on, and who didn’t follow what was going on at all.
Math is not a scary thing. It can be fun and highly useful. In researching adult learners who return to college, I found a quote by Einstein saying (2015), “Do not worry about your difficulties in mathematics. I can assure you that mine are still greater.” In Einstein’s humility, it was heartening to know we all have our weaknesses. It was even more hopeful knowing his historical mathematical strengths. According to Erskine (2015), “While the overwhelming majority of Americans, 93 percent, agree that strong math skills are essential to being successful in life, nearly a third say they would rather clean the bathroom than solve a math problem.” We all know how socially acceptable and funny it is to be bad at math. Although Erskine stated it too, she is right. However, I feel the tide is turning. It is becoming increasingly acceptable to improve oneself. I am looking forward to using the EdReady program for my Algebra, Calculus and Trigonometry skills. In bringing this essay to a close, there is always a practical and approachable way to have better math comprehension. Math does not have to be scary. This is my math life
I also learned that mathematics was more than merely an intellectual activity: it was a necessary tool for getting a grip on all sorts of problems in science and engineering. Without mathematics there is no progress. However, mathematics could also show its nasty face during periods in which problems that seemed so simple at first sight refused to be solved for a long time. Every math student will recognize these periods of frustration and helplessness.
Since I have gotten through the struggle of doing math, I now feel more confident in doing the work. If you ever get to where you don’t understand math, keep trying to understand it and don’t give up unlike I did. Because now I understand it and it comes to me so easy now. Just pay attention and try not to get behind. Because once you get behind it gets hard to
Let me explain….Being a ‘grown up’ I can look back on things and see what was happening to me way back when……Now at school I was ok at maths, UNTIL we got to algebra! I just could not get it. It wasn’t clear; I couldn’t picture any reason around it or any purpose for it. So after a while I stopped doing maths and took another topic. That’s a bit of a shame in hindsight, because now I find myself with a 17 year old doing year 11 maths!
Many years ago humans discovered that with the use of mathematical calculations many things can be calculated in the world and even the universe. Mathematics consists of many different operations. The most important that is used by mathematicians, scientists and engineers is the derivative. Derivatives can help make calculations of anything with respect to another event or thing. Derivatives are mostly common when used with respect to time. This is a very important tool in this revolutionary world. With derivatives we can calculate the rate of change of anything with respect to time. This way we can have a sort of knowledge of upcoming events, and the different behaviors events can present. For example the population growth can be estimated applying derivatives. Not only population growth, but for example when dealing with plagues there can be certain control. An other example can be with diseases, taking all this events together a conclusion can be made.
My enthusiasm and the strongly committed teachers I have encountered in my life have attributed to my success in math and science. Prior to going onto ninth grade, my Math classes dating back from middle school were never mentally straining. Math appealed to me because in eighth grade, my math teacher, Dr. Christopher, would encourage her class by recognizing our achievements with small rewards such as candies and ice cream passes during lunch. Her actions sparked my interest in math. I have a natural regard for math and science. By breaking down math problems step by step, I can better understand them. ...
Calculus is defined as, "The branch of mathematics that deals with the finding and properties of derivatives and integrals of functions, by methods originally based on the summation of infinitesimal differences. The two main types are differential calculus and integral calculus." (Oxford Dictionary). Contrary to any other type of math, calculus allowed Newton and other scientists to process the different motions and dynamic changes in world, such as the orbit of planets in space. Newton first became interested in the subject of mathematics while he was an undergraduate at Cambridge University. Although he did not focus on any of his math classes during his time as an undergraduate because it focused on Greek mathematics, he instead learned
Ever wonder how scientists figure out how long it takes for the radiation from a nuclear weapon to decay? This dilemma can be solved by calculus, which helps determine the rate of decay of the radioactive material. Calculus can aid people in many everyday situations, such as deciding how much fencing is needed to encompass a designated area. Finding how gravity affects certain objects is how calculus aids people who study Physics. Mechanics find calculus useful to determine rates of flow of fluids in a car. Numerous developments in mathematics by Ancient Greeks to Europeans led to the discovery of integral calculus, which is still expanding. The first mathematicians came from Egypt, where they discovered the rule for the volume of a pyramid and approximation of the area of a circle. Later, Greeks made tremendous discoveries. Archimedes extended the method of inscribed and circumscribed figures by means of heuristic, which are rules that are specific to a given problem and can therefore help guide the search. These arguments involved parallel slices of figures and the laws of the lever, the idea of a surface as made up of lines. Finding areas and volumes of figures by using conic section (a circle, point, hyperbola, etc.) and weighing infinitely thin slices of figures, an idea used in integral calculus today was also a discovery of Archimedes. One of Archimedes's major crucial discoveries for integral calculus was a limit that allows the "slices" of a figure to be infinitely thin. Another Greek, Euclid, developed ideas supporting the theory of calculus, but the logic basis was not sustained since infinity and continuity weren't established yet (Boyer 47). His one mistake in finding a definite integral was that it is not found by the sums of an infinite number of points, lines, or surfaces but by the limit of an infinite sequence (Boyer 47). These early discoveries aided Newton and Leibniz in the development of calculus. In the 17th century, people from all over Europe made numerous mathematics discoveries in the integral calculus field. Johannes Kepler "anticipat(ed) results found… in the integral calculus" (Boyer 109) with his summations. For instance, in his Astronomia nova, he formed a summation similar to integral calculus dealing with sine and cosine. F. B. Cavalieri expanded on Johannes Kepler's work on measuring volumes. Also, he "investigate[d] areas under the curve" ("Calculus (mathematics)") with what he called "indivisible magnitudes.
This evaluation has not only allowed me explore calculus more in depth, but also physics, and the way the world works. This has personally allowed me to explore the connections between math and real-world situations, which is hard to find in textbooks.
Differential calculus is a subfield of Calculus that focuses on derivates, which are used to describe rates of change that are not constants. The term ‘differential’ comes from the process known as differentiation, which is the process of finding the derivative of a curve. Differential calculus is a major topic covered in calculus. According to Interactive Mathematics, “We use the derivative to determine the maximum and minimum values of particular functions (e.g. cost, strength, amount of material used in a building, profit, loss, etc.).” Not only are derivatives used to determine how to maximize or minimize functions, but they are also used in determining how two related variables are changing over time in relation to each other. Eight different differential rules were established in order to assist with finding the derivative of a function. Those rules include chain rule, the differentiation of the sum and difference of equations, the constant rule, the product rule, the quotient rule, and more. In addition to these differential rules, optimization is an application of differential calculus used today to effectively help with efficiency. Also, partial differentiation and implicit differentiation are subgroups of differential calculus that allow derivatives to be taken to more challenging and difficult formulas. The mean value theorem is applied in differential calculus. This rule basically states that there is at least one tangent line that produces the same slope as the slope made by the endpoints found on a closed interval. Differential calculus began to develop due to Sir Isaac Newton’s biggest problem: navigation at sea. Shipwrecks were frequent all due to the captain being unaware of how the Earth, planets, and stars mov...
When I graduated from high school, forty years ago, I had no idea that mathematics would play such a large role in my future. Like most people learning mathematics, I continue to learn until it became too hard, which made me lose interest. Failure or near failure is one way to put a stop to learning a subject, and leave a lasting impression not worth repeating. Mathematics courses, being compulsory, are designed to cover topics. One by one, the topics need not be important or of immediate use, but altogether or cumulatively, the topics provide or point to a skill, a mastery of mathematics.