Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site ttidcc.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!mtuxo!mtunh!mtung!mtunf!ariel!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!hplabs!pesnta!amd!vecpyr!lll-crg!gymble!umcp-cs!seismo!cmcl2!philabs!ttidca!ttidcc!hollombe From: hollombe@ttidcc.UUCP (The Polymath) Newsgroups: net.singles Subject: Re: Intelligence Message-ID: <523@ttidcc.UUCP> Date: Wed, 3-Jul-85 16:27:27 EDT Article-I.D.: ttidcc.523 Posted: Wed Jul 3 16:27:27 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 9-Jul-85 12:18:17 EDT References: <456@ttidcc.UUCP> <457@ttidcc.UUCP> <1586@hao.UUCP> Reply-To: hollombe@ttidcc.UUCP (The Polymath) Organization: The Cat Factory Lines: 63 In article <259@tove.UUCP> dsn@tove.UUCP (Dana S. Nau) writes: >Do you really belive _everyone_ is required to take calculus? That's >certainly not so! I'll assume you mean everyone majoring in a technical >subject such as math, physics, chemistry, engineering, computer science, >etc. ... business, policy analysis, medicine, accounting, etc. I have a graduate degree in Psychology myself, mostly because it didn't require calculus and I thought I could make a living with it (wrong, but that's another story). It did require advanced courses in statistics and experimental design. These were taught with a very practical orientation that assured we knew how to correctly apply the techniques whether or not we could prove them. (The calculus proofs were presented, but we weren't required to derive them). >I think your question could be asked about nearly all college courses--both >required courses and electives. How could it apply to electives? Anyway, it's one thing to require introductory courses in a broad range of subjects in the interest of a well rounded education. It's something else entirely to require a difficult course in advanced mathematics for people who will never need it. > The courses teach not only what is taught >explicitly, but also ways of looking at the world and ways of thinking. Does calculus do this better than, say, economics or logic or psychology? Differently, perhaps, but I think not better. >If you want a more specific answer, calculus is necessary in order to >understand the following subjects ... . . . >(3) probability and statistics (which is used in systems performance > analysis, numerical analysis, analysis of algorithms, AI, pattern > recognition, and probably elsewhere); See remarks on statistics, above. > ... If >someone isn't going to be using these subjects, perhaps they don't need a >computer science degree! >A related question would be HOW MUCH calculus is useful for a computer >science major. ... I wasn't specifically asking about computer science degrees, but, since you mention it, I've been a senior programmer and project leader for a few years, having worked my way up from entry level. I'm hoping for a promotion to either a managerial position or equivalent technical position within a year. I intend to take (and pass (-: ) the CDP exam in December. All without a degree in CS and without having studied calculus. (I have been through several certificate programs through UCLA Extension). > ... I get frustrated when I present a proof >in a senior-level data structures course and most of the students tell me >they don't know how to do proofs using quantifiers. Forgive my ignorance, but would this ability have any practical use for anyone other than a mathematician or advanced researcher? Apparently not, if your students can get along without it.