Questions tagged [applied-mathematics]

For questions related to applications of mathematics and the teaching thereof.

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The key didactical ideas on mathematical modelling?

This question concerns teaching teachers who often already teach mathematics, but are now studying to get a formal qualification for it, and hopefully some more competency as well. What are the key ...
Tommi's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
118 views

What are specific set of tools Partial Differential Equations provide in studying a system? [closed]

I know what are PDEs, but I am looking to identify the major strengths of PDEs. If I have to convince a pool of engineers to use PDEs for solving a problem, let's say stress distribution in a body. ...
111Seven's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
90 views

References to learn modern functions applied to integration and numerical series problems and how to teach them to Calculus students

I think most of us have met integration problems concerning the trigonometric, polynomial, exponential, hyperbolic and power functions in the calculus courses. But many of the problems in this website ...
user1234's user avatar
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3 votes
3 answers
842 views

Walter Warwick Sawyer: How has reading his works changed your learning or teaching? [closed]

I recently worked my way through Walter Warwick Sawyer's book, Mathematician's Delight, which has opened my eyes to Maths. I used to fear maths, feeling I was incapable. Sawyer (among other authors) ...
Stephen Clement's user avatar
-2 votes
2 answers
179 views

Is applying maths a 'hard problem' and how does the profession help?

Question: Is there such a thing as an Applied Maths profession? In my engineering experience we were often at a loss as to which mathematical approach to take, and there seemed no obvious way to find ...
OookLout's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
197 views

How and what to teach on a second year Engineering Mathematics?

In the late 80’s and early 90’s there was the idea of ‘calculus reform’ and some emphasis and syllabus changed. The order of doing things in calculus also changed with the advantage of technology. ...
matqkks's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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Introducing direct substitution in an intro calculus course

I'm revisiting the materials I've put together for students taking a non-proof-based intro to calculus, and my goal is for them to have a clear but rough sense of a limit as a bound (basically enough ...
Rax Adaam's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
120 views

How can I effectively learn and master Math and Statistics for Data Science?

I completed a BSc in Computer Science recently and am going on to do an MSc in Data Science. However, the only focussed math module I had during CS was in the first year and I didn't do too well. I ...
curiousCoder's user avatar
-6 votes
1 answer
202 views

Why is Pure Mathematics so much easier than Applied Mathematics? [closed]

I love pure mathematics, so much. However, I recently did probability and statistics and applied mathematics courses, and I'm confused with statistics. There's no proofs and logic in applied math ...
The Evil Mathematician's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
209 views

If one wants to conduct a 1/2 day workshop in Mathematics for 12-16 year old students - how one should go about preparing the workshop

The questions that I want ask are the following: What are the most important and effective topics to conduct a workshop? What fraction of workshop should include lectures, activity, problem solving, ...
GanitCharcha's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
277 views

Tabular Fundamental Theorem of Calculus

This semester in first-semester Calculus I've been trying to focus on how to do Calculus calculations when given a table of data since this seems to be of importance to science majors. There are ...
Aeryk's user avatar
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6 votes
0 answers
77 views

Support modelling cycle through differentiated means

I plan to work with my students on solving real-world problems through modelling them. Now it is my idea to follow the modelling cycle below. The idea is to find with the help of two values that have ...
Rico1990's user avatar
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6 votes
5 answers
5k views

Examples of real-life vector fields for vector calculus

My two main ones are Electrostatic force field $\mathbf{E}\left(\mathbf{r}\right)=\frac{Q}{4\pi\epsilon_0 \left|\left|\mathbf{r}\right|\right|^3}\mathbf{r}$ and Gravitational force field, $\mathbf{F}\...
user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
2k views

Why does a first course in linear algebra teach QR-decomposition?

I am teaching a "linear algebra for engineers" course, and am currently building my lectures on Gram-Schmidt, QR-decomposition and least squares equation solving. $\bullet$ I can motivate ...
David E Speyer's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
121 views

How to explain the "less than yearly compounded interest" concept?

What difficulties can be met while teaching the "less than yearly compounded interest" concept? Based on my own (learning) experience, an objection arose when I was presented with the formula: $$A ...
user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
120 views

Entry Test for Statistical/Data Science class

If there is a Data Science class (for final year high school students, not necessarily from the same school) with the following syllabus: Python programming (first 3 meetings) Data cleaning and ...
Redsbefall's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
261 views

How to come up with a Leslie matrix with convenient eigenvalues?

A three by three Leslie matrix looks like $$ \begin{bmatrix} f_0 & f_1 & f_2 \\ s_0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & s_1 & 0 \end{bmatrix}, $$ where $f_0 \ge 0$ and everything else is ...
Tommi's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
72 views

Practical Implication for Correlation (Lay individual vs Scholarly Group)

Can you please explain or provide resources that explain this issue (esp. to a lay audience): How to understand the significance of a co-relation number that studies (esp. meta-analyses) produce. The ...
Hashem ElAssad's user avatar
6 votes
0 answers
86 views

Long-form, multi-step, skills-integrating applied mathematics problems in calculus I, II, III

When recently teaching Calculus II to college students, I instructed my students to read and be ready to work through the first 8 or so questions of James Walsh's climate modeling differential ...
Sinister Cutlass's user avatar
-4 votes
1 answer
187 views

Who are in the current top 10-20 applied mathematics educators and in what fields? [closed]

Who are in the current top 10-20 applied mathematics educators and in what fields? (Answers will be varied) Applied mathematics educators that teaches applied math topics such as applied statistics, ...
Arief's user avatar
  • 191
5 votes
2 answers
361 views

Trends in math education: Majors? Applied math? Statistics?

I would be quite interested in learning of trends (in the U.S. or internationally) of student interest at the undergraduate level in pure math vs. applied math, say, measured by majors at graduation. ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
403 views

Teaching science and engineering students the field of inverse problems

There is a Mathematics Stack Exchange question on a good book on inverse problems for engineers. Here, I would like to ask for suggestions on how to approach teaching undergraduate upper-division ...
J W's user avatar
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4 votes
3 answers
146 views

Suggestion and advices [closed]

In my country the education system is very expensive, so I’m considering starting an organization to teach lower-income students for free. In particular, to motivate them into the science fields. So, ...
Mohammed Rizqallah's user avatar
8 votes
4 answers
353 views

Make a matrix algebra course (1st university year) more "project-based"

Among other courses, I'm teaching a (basic) matrix algebra course for 1st year university students (they are studying Economics, and the cursus leads them to management, finance, or econometrics in ...
Basj's user avatar
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33 votes
12 answers
7k views

Should college mathematics always be taught in such a way that real world applications are always included?

I am teaching Linear Algebra this semester with the textbook Introduction to Linear Algebra by Serge Lang and most (perhaps all?) my students are not majoring in mathematics. As I was carefully ...
Zuriel's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
193 views

Easy and good book on combinatorial problems

I am searching for a book on combinatorics and/or mathematical puzzles for very beginners in easy English. The book should not contain detail mathematical expressions, will contain easy understanding ...
LSG's user avatar
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10 votes
5 answers
2k views

Inspirational Mathematics Books for Teenager

My daughter is in 6th grade. She likes mathematics, i.e., she likes to learn mathematics at school, is also good at what she has learned at school and is rather quick at picking new things. However, ...
user2219907's user avatar
40 votes
14 answers
20k views

Why do we teach complex numbers?

In algebra II, USA, we teach our students complex numbers. However, after algebra II, they never use complex numbers until pretty much complex analysis. The whole point of teaching them complex ...
Simply Beautiful Art's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
379 views

Modeling vs. Application vs. Context

Our undergraduate mathematics program has recently seen a large drop-off in majors (suspected reason: our growing (but separate) undergraduate statistics program is seen as being a more employable ...
Aeryk's user avatar
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7 votes
2 answers
281 views

Are there more modern or computation oriented applications of complex analysis in science and engineering?

No doubt that complex analysis is a tremendously useful with plenty of applications in engineering and physics. Common raw applications of complex analysis includes: evaluation of ordinary and ...
Fraïssé's user avatar
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9 votes
3 answers
232 views

Teaching and motivating the use of Eigenvectors

I would like to know how to better demonstrate Eigenvectors. The texts that I have display the properties and methods to calculate them. There are plenty of great elementary examples to follow through ...
Vass's user avatar
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9 votes
3 answers
341 views

New math. teaching assistant facing big problems, what to start with? [closed]

I'm new math teaching assistant in faculty of engineering in Egypt. And after one term only, I found 3 big problems here: 1) There is no help in teaching me how to teach. It's up to my own skills. 2)...
Mohamed Mostafa's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
346 views

Quantity as the basic concept for applied mathematics

I read about the Theory of Quantity in the booklet Principles of Mathematics Education written by Kô Ginbayashi in 1984. (A summary of it is here.) Instead of using pure numbers as the basic concept,...
JRN's user avatar
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7 votes
7 answers
3k views

Mathematics in real life

I am interested in examples of use of mathematics in real life situations. To be more precise, something that could be presented to undergraduate students in order to motivate them for studying maths. ...
Ademir Hujdurovic's user avatar
13 votes
3 answers
6k views

What math courses should be taught to undergrad electrical engineers: a 40 years update

I was browsing IEEE xplore the other day and found this gem called "What Mathematics Courses Should an Electrical Engineer Take? A Report on the National Study of Mathematics Requirements for ...
Fraïssé's user avatar
  • 737
3 votes
3 answers
7k views

Application of Minimizing Average Cost

In my Business Calculus class we cover finding the production level that minimizes average cost. I get what average cost is measuring, but all the texts I've looked at don't really mention why we care ...
Aeryk's user avatar
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7 votes
4 answers
1k views

Complex analysis (Applied versus pure)

I am studying Electrical Engineering and I want to specialize in signal processing. However, I have to study complex analysis first (I am an undergraduate, so I lack some terminology). In your opinion:...
Eng_Boody's user avatar
  • 301
3 votes
2 answers
158 views

Teaching Mathematics rules or its applications

I am teaching Mathematical Economics for undergraduate students. Students have taken Mathematics I and II during their first year and they must take Mathematical Economics when they are third year ...
Huseyin's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
156 views

Advice on studying mathematical biology [closed]

I am really passionate about theoretical and quantitative biology and I would like to build my future career around this topic. I've just got my bachelor's degree in biology (ecology) but scince I've ...
Alana's user avatar
  • 23
5 votes
1 answer
150 views

What other skill sets for middle school students can be introduced during the Stock Market Game?

The Stock Market Game has been a staple in mathematics and economics curricula for quite some time. There are a number of different skill sets that can be taught to middle school students (grades 6-8)...
jonsca's user avatar
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20 votes
4 answers
2k views

Computational topology for engineers

Increasingly, I see computational topology being applied to problems involving sensor networks, robotics, data analysis, signal processing and various other areas. The topics I mention are interesting ...
J W's user avatar
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31 votes
8 answers
3k views

How to react to students saying that they are allergic to applied mathematics?

I'm working in the field of applied mathematics (optimization and numerics) and I meet a lot of students saying that they are allergic to applied mathematics or that they hate it or some quotes like "...
Markus Klein's user avatar
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