Recent content by stf

I think linear algebra is kind of like the flour that holds the calc 3 cakes and diff eq pastries together. It seems kind of weird at first, but when put into context really is handy to know. That said I think you can easily do calc 3 prior, I would take linear algebra prior to diff eq as the...

Not really even sure how you could make sense of an eigenvalue without the eigenvector...

Ugh. My first test surprised me with a 94%. Just had my second test which I completely choked on though. Will not be surprised to see less than 80% on it. This is what not enough studying does I suppose.

Thanks for the posts and advice, I will be looking into my math departments data when I get a chance.

I am quite certain I will not be going for a PhD, and after doing some research most job postings seem to be looking for PhD's in math. I am in my second year doing this applied mathematics degree, (It is actually even more focused "Computational Mathematics") but if my job prospects are...

Hello! Actually I am a terrible person, I solved it after tim's last post and should really have thanked him. So yes, I eventually set up the equation to be (6-x) + 2(sqrt(1^2 + x^2)) where x is the length of the "triangle" that is formed by the two cables connected to the beam, which is...

Well, I mean it seems like it would have 3 parts, two identical which are the \/ section and one long remaining section. the total from top to bottom would be 6m, so the vertical would be a portion of the 6m minus the height in between the connecting angle, so i don't really understand what you...

But how would I go about setting that up in an equation? It seems like I would have two parts of the length of the wire, the two that form the intersecting \/ so for example 2a, and the rest to the bottom, or (6 - a), but if i set this up to be a whole length of cable it would be (6 -a) + 2a...

Homework Statement A load must be suspended 6m below a high ceiling using cables attached to two supports that are 2m apart. How fare below the ceiling (x in figure) should the cables be joined to minimize the total length of the cable used? They give a figure, which I am butchering here...

Ok, thank you for the help!

Yes, it should actually be cubed, thanks! Is the actual calculus I am doing correct? Also why am I not using the base h=2? I feel I am missing something else in this problem.

Homework Statement A piston is seated at the top of a cylindrical chamber with radius 5 cm when it starts moving into the chamber at a constant speed of 3 cm/s. What is the rate of change of the volume of the cylinder when the piston is 2cm from the base of the chamber? Homework...

Ok, Revisiting logarithm rules, it looks like it would be ln 1/sin = ln 1 - ln sinx, so I am assuming that ln 1 = 0 which gives the equation...I still don't fully understand why ln 1 equals zero though...I suppose I need to revisit all this old material. Thanks.

Homework Statement prove the identity. ln csc(x) = -ln sin(x) The Attempt at a Solution With a calculator I am able to prove it is in fact an identity, but I have NO clue why? In fact I am quite unclear on logarrithms in general as my algebra class just barely covered them and...

If only it were that simple! Thanks for your help, I have it understood now! :)