What kind of math is involved in engineering

They tell us where we stand in the world, among our peers and even in our family. They tell us who's winning. The engineer uses them for the same reasons — by statistical analysis of the design, the engineer can tell what percentage of a design will need armor or reinforcement or where any likely failures will occur. For the civil engineer, statistics appear as the concentration of rainfall, wind loads and bridge design. In many locations, engineers designing drainage systems must design for a or year storm in their calculations, a significant change from the normal rain concentration.

Calculus is used by engineers to determine rates of change or rates by which factors, such as acceleration or weight, change. It might tell NASA scientists at what point the change in a satellite's orbit will cause the satellite to strike an object in space. World View. How Is Math Used in Engineering? More From Reference. How Much Is One Score? Some of this equipment includes electric motors, machinery controls, lighting and wiring in buildings, vehicles, aircraft, radar and navigation systems, and power generation, control and transmission devices used by electric utilities.

Most engineering programs involve a concentration of study in an engineering specialty, along with courses in both mathematics and the physical and life sciences. Engineers offering their services directly to the public must be licensed. Continuing education to keep current with rapidly changing technology is important for engineers.

Mathematics is a big part of an engineer's daily work, including statistics, calculus, algebra, geometry and trigonometry. The basic algebra students learn in high school is only the beginning, a necessary foundation for almost any further development in either mathematics or electrical engineering. A prospective engineering student must be able to solve variable equations and understand how to factor complex polynomial expressions.

You must be very comfortable working with logarithms and be familiar with algebraic manipulation of complex numbers — numbers with both real and imaginary roots. You will also need to be familiar with Boolean algebra, a logical system that is central to understanding circuit design.

Civil engineers use trigonometry often when surveying a structure. Surveying deals with land elevations as well as the various angles of structures.

Physics equations are applied to all angles of an engineering problem to make sure the structure being created is going to function the way it must. When a bridge is being designed, physics is used to figure out how large the supporting piers should be, as well as how thick the steel columns of bridge need to be, and how many of them should be installed. Physics equations typically use algebra, calculus, and trigonometry. Basic math skills such as accounting and statistics must be utilized during the planning phase of any project.

Located in New York State, Benjamin Skinner has been writing technology and health articles since