Why would you need this?

[Sexy Street]

I am just wondering what the need is for calculus. I want to know what it is used in, and the way it is used.
So, I thought that this is a good topic for a question! Ask why something is needed, and how it is used if needed at all.
I kind of want this to be a serious conversation so just ask a question and hopefully someone will be nice enough to answer.

 

[Hero in a half shell]

Because when you inevitably end up standing outside a skyscraper needing to know the exact height of the building in order to save the world but all you have is a stick, a tape measure and a sunny day, you will need to apply CALCULUS!

It happens surprisingly often in day-to-day life.

 

[CrystalShadow]

Eh... Being a computer game programmer? XD

No, seriously. Calculus was developed independently by two people, one being Isaac Newton.

The reason most of it exists is to do with calculating what a moving object will do over time.
(or more generally, the way anything changes with time)
So... Most things involving physics, even at the most basic level, will involve having to deal with calculus at some point.

Granted, how many people program computer games?

But the point still stands, if you don't understand calculus (and vector mathematics, Matrix calculations, and of course, algebra) you're going to have a hell of a time creating anything but the most trivial of games...

 

[gussy1z]

Eh... Being a computer game programmer? XD

No, seriously. Calculus was developed independently by two people, one being Isaac Newton.

The reason most of it exists is to do with calculating what a moving object will do over time.
(or more generally, the way anything changes with time)
So... Most things involving physics, even at the most basic level, will involve having to deal with calculus at some point.

Granted, how many people program computer games?

But the point still stands, if you don't understand calculus (and vector mathematics, Matrix calculations, and of course, algebra) you're going to have a hell of a time creating anything but the most trivial of games...

Its used lots for AI too... not just AI in games but many algorithms use it too.

Its pretty important for programming, not so much if you want to be a writer.

 

[Arsonade]

This is probably a little strange, but I've actually found calculus to be sort of useful in daily life. Calculus is the study of change, rates of change, stuff like that (among other stuff of course), and when you do it for long enough you can visualize those graphs and those rates of changes, this can be useful, but usually only abstractly. an example...lets see...ok lets say that you're getting really bored reading this post, and as I go on an on and on you're boredom levels get higher and higher faster and faster, so that's an exponential curve, and before long your boredom will be approaching infinity! so you could predict that ahead of time and stop reading before you fall asleep. Not a very good example...but you get the idea.

 

[CrystalShadow]

This is probably a little strange, but I've actually found calculus to be sort of useful in daily life. Calculus is the study of change, rates of change, stuff like that (among other stuff of course), and when you do it for long enough you can visualize those graphs and those rates of changes, this can be useful, but usually only abstractly. an example...lets see...ok lets say that you're getting really bored reading this post, and as I go on an on and on you're boredom levels get higher and higher faster and faster, so that's an exponential curve, and before long your boredom will be approaching infinity! so you could predict that ahead of time and stop reading before you fall asleep. Not a very good example...but you get the idea.

... Predicting boredom, using calculus? Yeah... Now I've seen it all. XD

 

[Arsonade]

... Predicting boredom, using calculus? Yeah... Now I've seen it all. XD

well yeah, more often than not its for creating boredom.

 

[darth.pixie]

Ah...engineering, programming, physics, designing, statistics, economics, demography, medical research and pharmaceutics ?

So yes, biology and medicine use calculus too, to determine use of drugs (surface area is one way to measure the size of a person for accurate prescriptions).

It's very nearly everywhere.