- #1
sk2017
- 2
- 0
Hi,
I am a first year calculus two student. I found that I have serious trouble understanding the derivation of formulas. For example, I can solve most of the exam problems because they are just using formulas, say arc length = Integral(sqrt( 1+ (dy/dx)^2)dx, but my textbook actually has two pages dedicated to how this formula is derived. I've looked at youtube videos and "kind of" understands it, but certainly not to the degree my textbook explains. I found it extremely troubling when doing center of mass problems, because the textbook dedicated 4 pages of work to reach the final formula, and I can't even find one place online that says anything else than "here's the formula and just use it."
so basically, I can just do algebra provided with a formula (i'm not even good at algebra...), except with integral signs and derivatives. Is one suppose to understand this math stuff for an EE job or is using formulas all that's required?
I am a first year calculus two student. I found that I have serious trouble understanding the derivation of formulas. For example, I can solve most of the exam problems because they are just using formulas, say arc length = Integral(sqrt( 1+ (dy/dx)^2)dx, but my textbook actually has two pages dedicated to how this formula is derived. I've looked at youtube videos and "kind of" understands it, but certainly not to the degree my textbook explains. I found it extremely troubling when doing center of mass problems, because the textbook dedicated 4 pages of work to reach the final formula, and I can't even find one place online that says anything else than "here's the formula and just use it."
so basically, I can just do algebra provided with a formula (i'm not even good at algebra...), except with integral signs and derivatives. Is one suppose to understand this math stuff for an EE job or is using formulas all that's required?