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Discuss your view on the value of taking mathematics classes.

I think that taking math classes is wonderful. Math is that one subject that you can always have a solution, or a logical process to get to some sort of conclusion. It is very black and white, right or wrong, and that is what I enjoy most. It teaches you to follow a process to an answer, and it is the basis for many engineering concepts, which is a benefit. I think that math is invaluable! I couldn't imagine not having to take math, I would be lost without it.

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I believe that mathematics courses are the most valuable classes one can take. I think this because although at times relating the content learned in a math class to real life can be hard, the stimulus learning math gives your brain can't be beat. Math, in my opinion, is one of the best ways to develop and expand the brain, and there are so many different things one can do with math skills. I very much enjoy taking math classes, and the challenges they present, because there is always something to learn.

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I agree that math classes are very important classes to take. They create the stepping stones for other engineering classes and the things we learn in math classes can be used to solve engineering problems. I like that there is a specific way to solve a problem and that there is usually one answer to a problem. Without taking math classes i would be completely clueless in my engineering classes.


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I would also agree that taking math classes are very important. Even though most of the classes are theory based, it provides a strong foundation when going into real world applications using math. Also math classes provide problem solving skills which help in just about any other field. I believe that you should have to take at least 1 math class a year.

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I think math is important and useful up to a certain point. If you're not an engineer, mathematician, or physicist, most of it won't be useful. I think math up to calculus should be taught to everyone. But any math concept beyond that should be learned as you learn other concepts in other classes. For example, instead of having a class dedicated to differential equations, you should learn about differential equation concepts in your dynamics class or quantum mechanics class when you discuss concepts where differential equations are useful.

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I like the idea of having everyone learn calculus, and I think it would be overall beneficial. I also entertain the idea of only taking the math classes that are going to directly apply to the other concept courses I am in. If none of my classes ever use a matrix, I dont really see the benefit of taking linear other than I am a nerd and I enjoy math. However, I think it would be hard to implement only taking the classes that applied to you and your major. The engineering program already encompasses so much information and requirements are so strict and structured that it provides little to no flexibility. Oh well! We got ourselves in to this engineering mess...ha!

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The part of math that helps people the most is it forces people to think and problem solve.


I think the most valuable part of math is that it often forces people to think in a different manner than they are used to. I remember the first time I was asked to think about infinitely small steps to get the area by an integral. It was a new way of thinking about the world around me.


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I think math is a very important subject to learn. Math helps people learn to think logically about different problems in order to reach a solution. Many people look at the math they are doing and think that I will never use this again. While this may be true the practice of solving these problems will enable you to better solve other real life problems that may be sent your way.

Alumni Liaison

Prof. Math. Ohio State and Associate Dean
Outstanding Alumnus Purdue Math 2008

Jeff McNeal