- #1
mesa
Gold Member
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adjacent said:Moved from where to where?
mesa said:I need to get to bed, so...
Last time I checked vectors and points in Cartesian coordinates is a Calc 3 problem. If a mentor could put it back then all will be right with the Universe again.
Good night physicsforums.
mesa said:Last time I checked vectors and points in Cartesian coordinates is a Calc 3 problem.
ZapperZ said:Just because it is used in a problem, doesn't mean in belongs in that category. That's like saying an elementary algebra problem belongs in a QFT topic simply because algebra is used in solving a QFT problem.
The problem you posted is an elementary vector problem. It is a typical problem one sees in such a course, and it is also of that level. Thus, it is has been moved to the more appropriate forum.
Zz.
Vanadium 50 said:I was doing problems like this in high school.
In any event, the decision has been made, and you have been given an explanation why.
mesa said:Elementary or not, this subject has only been covered in Calc 3. Further Howard Anton, Flanders, and even Stewart disagree with your assessment. Perhaps your sequence of topics covered was different than mine, what class did you first cover this topic?
ZapperZ said:I did vectors in high school, as with Vanadium. In fact, one needs to know these to do simple high-school kinematics problems. If not, how else does one know how to resolve velocity and momentum vectors in physics problems? And during my brief stint outside of the US, I've taught A-level physics, and text such as Nelkon-Parker used only algebra and geometry to solve physics problems, no calculus. So even in such an educational system, algebra and geometry are often taught FIRST, ahead of calculus.
Furthermore, you cannot start doing calculus without understanding basic algebra and geometry. In fact, in many colleges, the prerequisite to enrolling in calculus courses is often those two subject areas.
ZapperZ said:But what is puzzling here, why are you "offended" that the thread was moved? Do you think that you won't get the same level of help if it is in its current forum?
Zz.
mesa said:I do however take offense to the notion that the physicsforums feels it is okay to redefine a standard sequence for course work that goes against the 3 most popular textbooks (in the United States) and that which is standard material covered in almost every University and College here.
ZapperZ said:Come again?
I used Thomas-Finney as my calculus text in college. You simply will NOT be able to understand that text without prior knowledge of algebra/trig/geometry! And last time I checked, that is a very popular text in US colleges.
Secondly, I checked my alma-mater again to see if the course sequence has changed. ALL the calculus courses that I looked up in the Math department all had the same algebra/trig/geometry prerequisites!
http://www.math.wisc.edu/UCourses
For physics/math/engineering student, Math 221/222/etc sequence clearly shows the necessary prerequisites of having algebra/trig/geometry requirement!
So how are we redefining the standard sequence again?
Zz.
mesa said:The information provided in my previous classes was not enough to answer the question which I posted however that which was taught in my Calc 3 course did.
It is wonderful that your education was of higher caliber than what is taught today and I DO find it unfortunate that these topics are not covered in better detail earlier on.
Either way, my point is simple, the question came directly from a standard Calculus course and can not be answered by the topics covered previously hence it is a Calc 3 problem regardless of how elementary the physicsforums may believe it is.
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