How good are you at calculus?

[TimeWoundsAllHeals]

Just curious how familiar people are with calculus?

A) didn’t ever learn it
B) some conceptual knowledge but don’t ask me to solve any problems
C) could probably solve problems after a brief refresh
D) univariate calculus only
E) multivariate calculus
F) I use calculus all the time, could do it in my sleep

I’m feeling so inadequate that I’m just a B, feels like I’m not really a proper adult.

I'm going to google and see what it is - is it the cos, sin, stuff?

Nah. Non the wise after a Google.

I think I'm an A.

A

Isn't that A level stuff? I got a U at AS level in maths so think I will go with A. I thought sin, cos etc were trigonometry though.

Somewhere between E and F. I don't use it all the time because my current job doesn't need it, my old job did, I don't do it in my sleep because I have other things to dream about.

Yeah you're right takeme...

I can't do that either!

I was once an F, but have probably decayed back to somewhere between D and E these days. Ex-maths teacher, so I've still got some of the moves.

never could get this at school i got a U in o level maths my DP on the other hand is brilliant at Maths teaches engineering maths at university level but wouldnt and could pick up a reading book to save his life wheras i love reading and got my degree in english its swings and roundabouts where maths is concerned

I was an F in school but haven't done any since. I loved it.

It's interesting that you put it on a scale going univariate to multivariate, but even in univariate there's some tough stuff, such as solving differential equations (or analysing them if non-linear) or using complex numbers to do contour integration.

Sorry, just noticed the last part of your post about feeling inadequate.

I don't think you should feel inadequate. If you are not using maths in your work, then I think B is a good place to be in terms of having some appreciation of this area of human achievement - just as I can't paint, but I can appreciate great works of art.

That said, if you have concepts that you want to understand, it sounds like there's a few people here who would be able to help. I love the brains on MN!

My head hurts just reading the thread tbh.

A. Or if I did learn it I don't remember it. I barely remember anything I did at school, I didn't go to university or do A levels.

A and have never felt inadequate as I’ve never ever needed it! Just like I’ve never needed to calculate the area of a circle. I could if I needed to lol.

I think if you needed to do it and couldn’t then feel inadequate - otherwise just celebrate what you can do!

E probably, after a bit of revision. I did A level Pure Maths.

If you can do mental arithmetic and understand Maths related to financial decisions, anything else to me is a bonus. Not being able to do or remember calculus would not be anything to get upset about.

It was part of my O level maths, and then got more complicated at A level, but I loved it!
I rediscovered differentiation after 30 years helping DS with his GCSEs last year, but he didn't do integration, so hoping he'll need help with his A levels.
Goodness only knows when you would use it in real life though.
So probably a B in your list 😁

I did goes maths got a b I think, didn't do a level maths. Have good alevels degree etc. but never learned it. Don't feel in any way inadequate!!

It makes sad to say I can no longer do this, even though I got a State Scholarship to do a Maths Degree. I'n pretty sure I could pick it up again eventually. My body may be decrepit, but my mind is still working well.

Goodness only knows when you would use it in real life though.

I was here yesterday www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/3430246-Liverpool-ACC-for-a-conference-today-Any-other-MNetters-there
and one of the sessions I went to was showing a technique where to use it would inevitably lead to some calculus, in order to understand the underlying behaviour of functions that one might use.

A.

B. Did it at school for O level but haven't even thought about it since. Though I reckon I might stretch to C after a refresher.

I’m not even sure what it is... and I’m not even gonna google it. If I’ve managed to get to 43 without knowing... 🤣

F. I learned because of work and now I am better than the grads that work for me. However, maths and logic is a forte of mine.

E. Used to be an F, but I tend to skim over the equations in stuff I read and assume they do what the author said. Unless I'm reviewing it, and then I pull out my textbooks and use my google-fu to check. So far only once had to tell the editor it was beyond me! (and it was beyond them, too, so made me feel better...)

I did it at degree level and taught it at A level for years but I think I'm only at E now.